REGENERATIVE ORGANIC CERTIFICATION BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS
Inspiring Change
Through Regenerative Organic Certification
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What criteria do you look for in the products you buy? Perhaps you check the nutritional value or list of ingredients. Maybe you look for non-GMO, fair-trade, or organic-certified products. As consumers, we are faced with many choices, and we can take a stand on a variety of issues (or not at all) with every item we buy.
There is a new label many people will be looking for whether they’re shopping for food, clothing, or personal care products, and if you see it, you can feel terrific about what you’re buying. It’s called “ROC”, which stands for Regenerative Organic Certified. ROC checks all of the boxes. Although new to the marketplace, it is already being called the highest standard for organic agriculture in the world. Consumers who purchase products with this stamp of approval know that they are supporting soil health, farmworkers, and pasture-based animal welfare.
Already a certified organic and biodynamic property before receiving the ROC stamp, California’s Tablas Creek Vineyards says the focus on employee wellness was a significant attracting factor to the certification.
Regenerative organic farming techniques can help heal the broken food system and as a result, improve human health
The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) is behind the new certification. The group includes various experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and fair trade. The goal of the ROA is to heal a broken system, repair the planet, and empower farmers and consumers through better farming practices.
“What really drew us in was ROC’s commitment to the importance of the Social Responsibility pillar/standard,” explains viticulturist Jordan Lonborg. “In the world of agriculture, all too often are the workers overlooked. This certification ensures that it is not the case on your farm.”
There are three levels to the certification -- bronze, silver, and gold. To make it to the top tier, farms and businesses must strive to include more rigorous regenerative organic techniques. When a product makes it to gold, it truly is the cream of the crop.
First established in 2018, the ROC pilot phase took place last year. The standard is now open for general certification. Before being eligible, farms must be organic-certified by the USDA. After that, they must meet additional criteria to ensure thriving soil life, animal welfare, and social fairness. For example, a USDA-recognized organic farm must also provide a tillage action plan, soil lab test results, and a record of native fauna and flora on the farm to get the ROC. Beyond that, they must also have not cleared any forests for agricultural purposes since 2015. Year-round cover crops and crop rotation are also necessary. These are just a few examples of the environmental criteria ROC farms must meet. Fair labor and social justice are also paramount in the certification process. Businesses who achieve the ROC respect all laws associated with working conditions and the health and safety of their employees. 93
