When Sunil Kumar decided to pursue organic auditor training opportunities outside of the full-time job he had held for 14 years, it was not a decision taken lightly. With a family to care for, the risks were high, but that sacrifice is now paying off for the 37-year-old father and husband. For over a decade at Homes of Hope (HOH) in Fiji, Mr. Kumar transitioned from a volunteer to the Team Leader of Social Training and Enterprise, dedicating himself to HOH’s mission of fostering a culture of freedom across Fiji and the South Pacific—where girls, young women, and children can break free from the stigmas and cycles of forced sex. As team Leader, Mr. Kumar played a key role in shaping HOH’s strategic direction, enhancing its training programmes, and developing sustainable social enterprises that aligned with the organisation’s mission. During this time, he was introduced to organic farming, which sparked his interest in organic auditing, a field he later pursued as a career focus. In 2022, he travelled to Solomon Islands for another organics training, and in 2023, he underwent the initial auditor training programme with Ecocert, a global leader in organic certification. In 2024, he was invited by the Pacific Community (SPC) through the European Union-funded Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific) project to train in Cambodia as an organic auditor through Ecocert. That invitation marked a turning point in Mr Kumar’s journey to becoming a globally recognised freelance Organic Auditor. In layman’s terms, an Organic Auditor checks farms and food production facilities to ensure they are following organic farming rules or practices. The auditor inspects these places to ensure that no harmful chemicals or synthetic fertilisers are used and that the farm is using natural methods to grow crops and care for animals. The auditor’s checklist will include factors like how the soil is managed, how pests are controlled, and how crops rotate to stay healthy. They will also check farm records to ensure everything used on the farm is compliant with organic standards. The auditor will then compile a report with their findings, which helps determine if a farm or facility has maintained organic farming practices and standards and recommend changes if needed. His personal commitment to protecting the planet for future generations and strong belief in sustainable living fuelled his desire to pursue organic farming. “I personally feel that we need to preserve the environment/ecosystem so our kids can enjoy what we enjoyed as kids, being sustainable and being an advocate for organic farming practices,” he said. Mr Kumar says it was also more than just a career, sharing that he realised after his first training session how vital it was to help farmers ensure their products met the highest standards of organic farming. Ultimately, his dream is to contribute to the global effort in organic farming, especially by advocating for women in the industry. “I have served for 14 years in an NGO that is close to my heart. Pursuing organic auditor training is the desire to establish a career in the growing organic agriculture industry with the hope of contributing my knowledge to the advancement and recognition of women in sustainable organic farming,” he said. While the rewards of his sacrifice are paying off, this is only the beginning of Mr Kumar’s life as a freelance Organic Auditor. His journey has by no means stopped since he completed the training, and he continues to learn and grow, tapping into additional training opportunities for further development. “In 2018, I had my first encounter in organics when I travelled to Green Minds Incorporated in the Philippines for about three weeks of short training on organics in different aspects, meaning growing organic vegetables, making organic animal feeds, organic concoctions (pesticide and fertilizers) and other aspects such as practicing organics in food production and processing (GMP – Good Manufacturing Practises),” he shared. Through the Ecocert auditor training, Mr Kumar learned key skills like sharp analytical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving, as well as the fundamentals of organic farming, from crop rotation to integrated pest management. But he didn’t just learn techniques – he learned the importance of organic certification that ensures farms adhere to strict guidelines and maintain traceability, guaranteeing that consumers are receiving high-quality, sustainable products. The training in Cambodia included a series of audits and familiarisation with the forms, tools, and procedures involved in organic certification, aimed at enhancing his competency in conducting audits and using for documentation and reporting. Trainings covered Annual Audit, Unannounced Audit, Sampling, Organic Grower Groups, Production sites, Export facilities, and Wild Harvest operations. These audits aimed to ensure compliance with organic standards for both production and processing. This marked the final step toward becoming a certified organic auditor in the Pacific region. “I am committed to utilising the lessons learnt from the training to contribute as a valuable asset for Fiji and the rest of the Pacific region. I would like to thank Mr Jim Pierce and the SPC European Union-funded SAFE Pacific project for making my journey a worthwhile one, and for all the support that was rendered to me to accomplish all I needed to as an organic auditor,” he said. Sunil Kumar’s story is a powerful reminder that professional growth can go hand in hand with a passion for sustainability and that through the smallest of actions we choose to take – be it composting at home or advocating for organic practices – we can be the change. Implemented by SPC’s Land Resources Division, SAFE Pacific provides targeted assistance to support small Pacific Island countries to increase export capacity and improve economic growth. A key capability involves supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in obtaining internationally recognised certifications that enable MSMEs to access higher-value markets. By supporting Sunil’s journey, SAFE Pacific is addressing the challenge of the limited number of qualified auditors available in the Pacific region for export markets. Sunil’s success as a certified organic auditor helps reduce the reliance on costly international auditors for local organic farmers!