Introducing the Regenerative Organic Certification
Rodale Institute has pioneered regenerative organic agriculture since our founder, J.I. Rodale, wrote "Healthy Soil=Healthy Food=Healthy People" on a chalkboard back in 1942. His son, Robert Rodale, coined the term 'regenerative organic agriculture' to distinguish a kind of farming that goes beyond simply 'sustainable.' To us, that always meant agriculture improving the resources it uses, rather than destroying or depleting them. It is a holistic systems approach to farming that encourages continual innovation for environmental, social, economic and spiritual wellbeing.
Today, we're proud to announce the new Regenerative Organic Certification, a cooperative effort among a coalition of farmers, ranchers, nonprofits, scientists, and brands, led by Rodale Institute, to establish a new, high-bar standard for regenerative organic agriculture. Owned by this coalition, the NSF International is facilitating the public comments process and is open to many certification partners. The standard encompasses guidelines for soil health and land management, animal welfare, and farmer and worker fairness. Regenerative Organic Certification builds upon the near 100-year legacy of organic movement visionaries like J.I. Rodale and Dr. Rudolf Steiner, and provides stepwise guidance for farming and ranching operations, transportation, slaughter, and processing facilities that produce food, cosmetics, and fiber.
The goals of Regenerative Organic Certification are to increase soil organic matter over time, improve animal welfare, provide economic stability and fairness for farmers, ranchers, and workers, and create resilient regional ecosystems and communities.