Melda Owino
Melda carries out audit services for the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard (SAS/ other certification schemes’) portfolio in East Africa through management of Salesforce database, fieldwork audits and peer reviews and making sure that audits are done according our Internal Quality Assurance requirement and SAS/other certification schemes’ policy.
As an Agriculture Specialist in Preferred by Nature, Melda is involved in all aspects of the audit processes including field audits and produces audit reports. These are part of the certification administration services support for activities related to Agriculture and other verification services in the region.
Melda also coordinates with Preferred by Nature team members to achieve cross programme efficiencies in Preferred by Nature audit management and customer service. Aside from that, she coordinates with the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard and other certification schemes and the regional quality points of contact to ensure quality and validity of official documents and support the global publication of such documents for Preferred by Nature.
"I am passionate about sustainable and safe food production. As much as we are working towards food security, we should also consider sustainable farming for the benefit of the future generation. I am grateful to be part of an organisation that supports sustainability and contributes to the improvement of farmers’ and workers’ livelihoods in the agriculture sector. I am also thrilled to be part of a system that shares information about sustainable agricultural production systems that aims at conserving the environment, protecting it from degradation and protecting human health and social well-being."
- Seasoned Agronomist and Agricultural systems auditor with 9 years’ work experience in the Agricultural sector having worked in Horticultural farms and Agricultural systems certification body.
- BSc in Agriculture and trainings on HACCP, Food safety, Safe use and proper handling of pesticides, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 17065, Organic Agriculture, Ethical Trade Initiative.
- Trained and experienced in auditing Agricultural standards covering food safety, good agricultural practices, workers welfare, health and safety and Environmental Conservation i.e., GLOBAL G.A.P., GRASP, SPRING, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Café Practices, Organic Agriculture.
- Participated in audits for smallholder farms, large farms and supply chain actors in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and South Africa for tea, coffee, cocoa, fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs and bee keeping.
