6th November, 2024 [Suva, Fiji] | The Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) is happy to announce the appointment of three new board members, enhancing our commitment to supporting organic farmers across the Pacific region. Joining the board are Elizabeth Pickering from Fiji, Andy Kirkwood from the Cook Islands, and Dr. Thierry Lison de Loma from French Polynesia. They will work alongside existing board members i.e. Board Chair, Sala Georgina Bonin from Samoa, Drew Havea from Tonga and Nambo Moses from Vanuatu.

Elizabeth Pickering in the middle on her farm with officers from DFAT in Taveuni island, Fiji

Elizabeth Pickering is an entrepreneur and advocate for organic agriculture, leading Marama Vanilla Fiji, an innovative organic farm focused on high-quality vanilla products. With a diverse background in tourism, natural resources, accounting, and sports, she brings a unique perspective to the POETCom Board. She specializes in sustainable and regenerative farming, with a focus on high-value crops like vanilla and turmeric. Elizabeth brings a fresh perspective on women’s empowerment, education, and innovation, and plans to collaborate with POETCom Board members and stakeholders to secure funding and resources for women’s empowerment programs, focusing on organics and vanilla initiatives. She also has experience with Participatory Guarantee System and transitioning farmers to the Global Certification with the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) Certification process.

Andy Kirkwood speaking at the Participatory Guarantee System Capacity Building Workshop in 2023, in Nadi, Fiji

Andy Kirkwood is a prominent figure in the Cook Islands’ agricultural landscape, owning Avana Vetiver, a leading bioengineering specification, nursery, and syntropic demonstration site. His extensive expertise in sustainable land management and agroecology has positioned him in contributing to the development of organic practices in the Cook Islands and the region. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavours, Andy serves as the Acting Secretary and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Certification Coordinator for Natura Kuki Airani.

Dr Thierry Lison de Loma

Dr Thierry Lison de Loma holds a PhD in biogeochemistry and serves as Vice President of PGS Bio Fetia, the organic certification body in Tahiti. He is also the President of the Cooperative of Organic Farmers Group in the Leeward Islands. As an organic farmer for the past decade, he runs two diversified farms in Raiatea under the name Vaihuti Fresh, supplying local restaurants and markets. Dr. Lison de Loma teaches organic agriculture and agroecology, while actively participating in policy development for resilient food systems. He received the “Farms for the Future” award in 2018 and has conducted research on biochar and permaculture.

POETCom Board Chair states that the new Board Members bring a wealth of diverse experiences and skills to the table and the Board gladly welcomes them. She further shares “We look forward to collaborating with Mrs. Pickering on advancing POETCom’s Women’s Chapter and value chains. Mr. Andy Kirkwood is assessing the eligibility of the Cook Islands and other Pacific territories for Official Development Assistance resources, which will be crucial for supporting organic systems. Lastly, Mr. Thierry Lison de Loma’s extensive experience with Pacific Organic Standards and certification systems will be invaluable to the Board. We’re eager to work closely with them all!”

As POETCom welcomes these exceptional leaders, we continue to be positive about the future of POETCom and reaching new heights within the organic farming landscape of the Pacific.

About POETCom

The Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community is the peak body for the organic movement in the region, a not-for-profit organisation with active members, farmer associations, farmer support organisations, NGOs, the private sector, research institutions and works with governments across the Pacific Island region. POETCom is hosted by the Land Resources Division (LRD) of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Suva, Fiji.