Mzipa Ghumi (left) Ngali nut organic producer from Solomon Islands following her supply route all the way to Fiji to Eileen Chute, owner of Bulaccino who buys from Mzipa’s at fair price

Organic agriculture is a system of agriculture that aims at ensuring maximum benefits to the farmer in the supply chain relationship. Many organic standards include requirements for social justice including the Pacific Organic Standard which has based requirements around international labour and human rights agreements.

The Pacific Islands are home to a wide range of societies and cultures from which have evolved diverse social structures and values. There are, however, some commonly held values including the importance of land. The people of the Pacific acknowledge land as their lifeblood and have a spiritual relationship with it that often includes recognition of many intangible values.

The extended family and village, and the obligations and benefits that arise from these networks, are also a key feature of Pacific life. Family and community relationships are strengthened by a communal approach to work and life.

Many traditions have been established to protect the interests of individuals and groups and these are incorporated along with contemporary approaches to ensure that the principles of social justice and human rights are an integral part of organic agriculture and processing in the Pacific.

Organic agriculture also recognises the need to establish fair and sustainable trading relationships based on trust, transparency, equity, accountability and continuity and this is a main objective of the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community.