What is Regenerative Organic?
Article by Stefan Burns - Updated December 2021. Join the Wild Free Organic email newsletter!
Regenerative organic is a farming method that enriches the Earth, treats animals humanely, and increases the production of crops through the latest in permaculture science. Regenerative organic farming is very similar to biodynamic farming. Regenerative organic farming and production creates and maintains a regenerative cycle that enriches the land it uses with nutrients.
Farms around the world that practice regenerative organic methods are helping to mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce factory farming, and empower rural economies.
Regenerative Organic Farming
There are many different practices that are important to regenerative organic farming, and the methods listed below and are the most notable.
Cultivation and maintenance of vegetative cover on cultivated land
Crops are rotated in order to keep soil nutrients balanced and free of depletion of any particular nutrient
Nitrogen fixing cover crops are utilized at least once during a full crop rotation (3-7+ crops sequentially grown in one area)
Soil disturbance is kept to a minimum
Rotational grazing is utilized, and ecologically sensitive areas are not grazed when it could have a negative impact on the ecosystem
Invasive species are monitored and managed
Endangered plants and animals are protected
Other regenerative practices are implemented such as the creation of pollinator habitats, agroforestry, mulching, ecosystem restoration, the planting of perennials, water conservation, and more.
Regenerative Organic Certification
Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) is a food and product certification that provides a framework for farmers and producers to improve soil health and nutrient load, promote animal welfare, and follow fair trade principles.
Notably, if you’ve ever read the label on a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s castile soap, then you might have seen that their products are regenerative organic certified. Dr. Bronner’s helped to establish the Regenerative Organic Certification, and they are one of the first large companies to pledge to follow regenerative organic principles, meaning their network of farmers and producers are all being paid fairly and transparently while utilizing permaculture methods that sequester carbon and enrich the soil with nutrients.
What is the Difference between Organic and Regenerative Organic?
Many organic certifications, most notably the USDA’s organic certification, have been around for decades. Food and products that are organic certified are superior to those equivalent products that aren’t organic certified because they use less fertilizers and pesticides, treat the environment better, and pay farmers/producers more fairly*.
The issue with organic certifications is that many loopholes exist within the certification and there is documented forgery of products being labeled organic and not actually being from farmers and producers who follow the organic guidelines. Organic products are better than conventional products with zero certification, but there is still a wide range of adherence and quality within the standard. Some organic certified farmers and producers who truly believe in permaculture principles produce outstanding food and products free from chemical use, in the process of production regenerating the land and sequestering carbon. Other organic certified participants do the bare minimum to stay certified, impacting the environment to a greater degree while resulting in lower quality food and products and charging similar prices as the higher quality organic producers.
Since nearly the inception of the organic certification experts have been calling for a better standard to follow, and some do exist such as the Demeter Biodynamic Certification, but foods and products with these better certifications are rare to find in the marketplace. Established in 2017, the regenerative organic certification currently finds itself in a similar situation, but it’s inherent advantage is that built into its name is a consumer understanding of the benefits of going organic. Because of this, the regenerative organic certification has the very real possibility of dethroning the more well known organic certification, with consumers preferring to purchase regenerative organic foods and products over simply organic ones once educated as to the many additional benefits that exist by going ROC.
The regenerative organic certification solves the many problems of the organic certification with its intelligently designed framework. By agreeing to follow regenerative organic principles, farmers and producers can cut out the guess work in designing a similar system themselves, and simultaneously receive resources, support, and expert guidance from the Regenerative Organic Alliance.
*Note - Every dollar spent is a vote for the future, so with every purchase make sure to support the future you want. Personally I only share my money with individuals and companies that believe in and work towards making the world a happier healthier place that’s fair for everyone, great or small.
The Three Pillars Of Regenerative Organic Certified
There are three main pillars to the principles of regenerative organic farming and production. As stated on regenorganic.org:
Soil Health
Builds Soil Organic Matter
Conservation Tillage
Cover Crops
Crop Rotations
No GMOs or Gene Editing
No Soilless Systems
No Synthetic Inputs
Promotes Biodiversity
Rotational Grazing
Animal Welfare
Five Freedoms
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from fear & distress
Freedom from hunger
Freedom from pain, injury or disease
Freedom to express normal behavior
Grass-Fed / Pasture-Raised
Limited Transport
No CAFOs
Suitable Shelter
Social Fairness
Capacity Building
Democratic Organizations
Fair Payments for Farmers
Freedom of Association
Good Working Conditions
Living Wages
Long Term Commitments
No Forced Labor
Transparency and Accountability
Pledging to these principles makes the regenerative organic certification extremely powerful. In effect, when purchasing regenerative organic foods and products, you can be assured that you’re helping to improve soil health and sequester carbon, won’t be exposed to GMOs or any synthetic chemicals, all animals involved in the production will be treated humanely and are pasture-raised, all while supporting a more transparent and democratic marketplace that is fair trade and pays living wages.
Instead of shopping for products that contain the organic, non-GMO project verified, humane certified, and fair trade labels, simply be on the lookout for the ROC label to ensure that every dollar spent is supporting a fair and humane system that regenerates the Earth along the way.
Disclosure: Affiliate links for Amazon in the article generate a commission for Wild Free Organic without raising the purchase price. These commissions are used to grow Wild Free Organic. Thank you