Meet the Regenerative Organic Certified early adopters
Regenerative organic agriculture has been talked about and even put to practice for decades. But not until recently has a more formal vision to encourage more engagement with these practices come to fruition.
September 28, 2020
![Meet the Regenerative Organic Certified early adopters Meet the Regenerative Organic Certified early adopters](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/blt02eb79da864e18fe/64ff1aff01a1a7ec6b8ccc5c/regenerative-organic-certified-logo.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
While Thrive Market is an online natural products retailer, it has been a champion of regenerative organic agriculture in both developing its own private label products and supporting brands the site carries. Thrive Market Breakfast Blend is just one such product created in direct partnership with a small co-op of organic farmers in Peru that produce the highest quality arabica beans. The primary co-op family has made it their mission to educate farmers across the region in regenerative, biodiverse farming practices, including composting and water reclamation. There are 13 families growing and participating in the cooperative and the goal is to expand to 50 or more in the coming years. "The farming cooperative we partner with in Peru is an amazing group that focuses on utilizing Regenerative Organic practices, including growing a variety of food crops amidst their coffee, such as fruit trees that are being grown for the community … Thrive Market has connected with them to both directly purchase beans as well as engage in community projects that support their operations and broader mission to expand and support more families in the region. By moving to direct trade and community projects, we are able to pay a premium even above comparable ‘Fair Trade’ rates in the region and have a greater impact," explains Jeremiah McElwee, chief merchandising officer at Thrive Market.
If you’ve watched “The Biggest Little Farm,” then you’re familiar with the transformation of Apricot Lane Farms from barren landscape to vibrant lushness. And now, the owners of Apricot Lane Farms, Molly and John Chester, are sharing the fruits of their labor. “While methods can be very unique to each piece of land, farmers are seeing the value in building a farm’s immunology through the lens of biodiversity. In the last nine years, I have watched the beautiful complexity of our farm’s ecosystem present infinite possibilities for collaboration,” said John Chester.
Well known as a leader in social responsibility with a focus on organic and fair trade ingredients and practices, it’s no surprise that Dr. Bronner’s has played an integral role in the development of the Regenerative Organic Certification. “Regenerative Organic Certification brings together the best of existing soil health, animal welfare, and fair labor certifications into a single standard. Adopted at global scale, regenerative organic management of agricultural lands can mitigate climate change and help build resilient rural communities,” said David Bronner, cosmic engagement officer at Dr. Bronner’s.
Having started as a farm-to-table organic operation in Nebraska, the Vetter family, founders of Grain Place Foods, are no strangers to the principles of organic. The family farm was certified organic in 1978 and, for a time, local farmers weren’t quite sure what to make of them. As mentioned in a recently released documentary on the family, “Dreaming of a Vetter World,” a local headline actually once read: “Successful organic farmer no longer considered ‘crazy',” as it pointed out that David Vetter’s farm was doing as well or better than the conventional farmers who had labeled him "crazy" years back. While Donald Vetter took the initiative to stop using chemicals on his farm, it was his son David who truly helped the farm develop regenerative practices, well before they were really considered a thing. Today, the family grows a variety of crops on a 9-year rotation. “Grain Place Foods is committed to the long term goals established by the Regenerative Organic Certification program. It aligns with the vision of organic agriculture my father and I had when I returned to the family farm 45 years ago. Healthy soil is the key to a healthy life for everything,” said David Vetter.
Like its peers receiving this certification, Guayaki prioritizes the planet and regeneration with an emphasis on helping to support the stewardship of the South American Atlantic Rain Forest and self sufficiency of indigenous communities. The company’s regeneration strategy “stems from Guayaki’s eight aspirations to regenerate ecosystems and create vibrant communities.” These aspirations cover regenerative agriculture sourcing to conscious leadership, nurturing tradition, social justice and even working with values-aligned partners. In walking their talk, Guayaki is the only pilot participant to be awarded Gold level Regenerative Organic Certification, the highest bar signifying pioneering regenerative agriculture for soil health and social fairness. “Guayaki Yerba Mate engaged in the ROC pilot to promote farming that nourishes land, growers, animals and consumers,” said Alex Pryor, Guayaki Yerba Mate co-founder.
“Herb Pharm volunteered as a pilot farm the moment we learned about Regenerative Organic Certification. We’re in a race against climate change, we can’t afford to lose … As ROC states: farm regeneratively because the world depends on it,” said Tal Johnson, CEO, Herb Pharm. Herb Pharm grows more than 65 herbs on its farm in Oregon. Yet, on the main farm is a 1.5-acre Botanical Education Garden that is home to more than 500 species of plants. What the company can’t grow in Oregon, they source responsibly from around the globe. Regardless of where each herb comes from, the company writes, “The story of our herbs begins long before the tincture hits the bottle. In each ecosystem where the herb grows, the soil, the plants, the animals and the weather surrounding it all play a role in its development.”
One of the first companies to certify rice as organic with fair trade pricing, B Corp-certified Lotus Foods believes doing the right thing goes hand in hand with product innovation. In particular, the company’s More Crop per Drop initiative, based on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods, has helped farmers double and even triple their yeilds while using 80-90% less seed and half the water. “These farmers who have been trained to use SRI methods, which we call More Crop Per Drop, have demonstrated that it is very feasible to generate important economic and environmental benefits like increasing yields of traditional varieties, reducing water use and methane emissions and also be regenerative,” said Lotus Foods co-founder/co-CEO Caryl Levine.
“What organic farming is really about is building up soil. We were placed here as stewards, not as masters … leaving the soil better than you found it means leaving the earth better than you found it,” says Arran Stephens, founder and chair at Nature’s Path and owner of Legend Organic Farm. In a short brand video, “The Solution is in the Soil,” Stephens together with farm manager Stuart McMillan outline what Regenerative Organic means. In pointing out the differences between organic and regenerative, McMillan explains that Nature’s Path has always been committed to the highest level of organic and regenerative organic embraces that focus. “You go further when it comes to preserving and promoting biodiversity, you go further in protecting and maintaining your soil quality but at its core it does tie back into the basic principles of organic agriculture," he said.
With a mission statement of, “We’re in business to save our home planet,” Patagonia has never been a company to shy away from a problem. Hence, with the creation of Patagonia Provisions, the company is now taking on regenerative agriculture from the sides of both food and fiber. In the company’s short film series, “Why Regenerative Organic,” former Patagonia president and CEO Rose Marcario states, “The best way to grow food and the best way to grow fiber is regenerative organic agriculture. Regenerative organic agriculture takes the best parts of organic agriculture and it builds on it and says what are the best practices we can use for soil health, for animal welfare, for labor and for farmers and combines it into one standard.” To this, Helena Barbour, head of sportswear, adds, “Agriculture can be part of the solution or part of the problem.” With core values that include “cause no unnecessary harm,” and “use business to protect nature,” Patagonia has proven to be a key player in driving solutions. For ROC certification, it partnered with Sol Simple to incorporate dried fruit products from Masaya, Nicaragua, into its product line.
With a mission statement of, “We’re in business to save our home planet,” Patagonia has never been a company to shy away from a problem. Hence, with the creation of Patagonia Provisions, the company is now taking on regenerative agriculture from the sides of both food and fiber. In the company’s short film series, “Why Regenerative Organic,” former Patagonia president and CEO Rose Marcario states, “The best way to grow food and the best way to grow fiber is regenerative organic agriculture. Regenerative organic agriculture takes the best parts of organic agriculture and it builds on it and says what are the best practices we can use for soil health, for animal welfare, for labor and for farmers and combines it into one standard.” To this, Helena Barbour, head of sportswear, adds, “Agriculture can be part of the solution or part of the problem.” With core values that include “cause no unnecessary harm,” and “use business to protect nature,” Patagonia has proven to be a key player in driving solutions. For ROC certification, it partnered with Sol Simple to incorporate dried fruit products from Masaya, Nicaragua, into its product line.
After much anticipation, the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) recently announced the creation and implementation of the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) certification standard for food, fiber and personal care products. Created by a group of experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare and fair trade, the program underwent a pilot phase before being open for general certification.
While organic pioneers like Robert Rodale talked about regenerative organic agriculture decades ago and Grain Place Foods’ David Vetter has long been using such practices, it wasn’t until 2018 that a more formal vision was constructed through ROA. First formed in 2018, ROA was created to promote and encourage more engagement in regenerative organic farming. The ROC standard was then formed and a pilot program for products was launched. The new certification has three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Somewhat similar to the rigor of B-Corps, to level up, participants are expected to phase in more rigorous regenerative organic practices over time. Yet, in order to start the process of eligibility, farmers must first hold organic certification from the USDA. They then must meet further “regenerative” criteria that addresses soil health, animal welfare and social fairness.
The announcement of the launch of ROC ushered in the arrival of the certification’s first products in the marketplace. Not unexpectedly, this group includs the likes of known organic heavy hitters Dr. Bronner’s, Nature’s Path and Patagonia Provisions along with product from newcomers like California-based Apricot Lane Farms, also known as “The Biggest Little Farm.” And, Tablas Creek Winery based in California's Paso Robles region has garned the status of being the first vineyard in the world to attain ROC certification. Of course, farming pioneer David Vetter of Grain Place Foods is in the mix, too.
Next steps are for ROA to increase the number of approved certifiers and to increase the number of products certified in partnership with the program’s manager, NSF International. ROC products will be available at retail, but Patagonia Provisions' website will also serve as the official e-commerce source for these products. Here are the ROC pioneers to look for on shelf.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like