🔎 ZOOM ON // ROC™, the regenerative organic certification

State of the Industry

The importance of soil health, animal welfare, and social equity has become the focus of many farmers and business leaders in recent years. While organic farming practices have historically focused on not using banned substances such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, regenerative organic certification goes even further.

• About 50% of the topsoil¹ on the planet has been lost. When farmland is cleared of natural vegetation, the topsoil is exposed and dried out. The diversity and quantity of microorganisms are reduced, resulting in nutrient loss and soil that can wash away or be washed away by rain. Extreme weather events have only exacerbated these problems.
• Soil erosion and loss of carbon sequestration cost farmers dearly in lost yields and fuel extreme weather.

Regenerative organic practices can provide farms with long-term solutions to the climate crisis, industrial agriculture, and poor rural economies.

¹ land that can be farmed

What is the purpose of Regenerative Organic certified™?

"The ROC™ Programme is overseen by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a group of experts in agriculture, animal husbandry, soil health, animal welfare, and equity for farmers and workers."

The goal is to promote holistic agricultural practices² with the goal of:

• sequester carbon in and above the soil
• improve animal welfare
• ensure economic stability and equity for farmers, ranchers and workers.

Consumers will know when they see the ROC™ label that their purchase has a positive impact on all levels: environmental, ethical and social.

² systems approach to resource management

Focus on ROC™ Certification: The ROC™ is defined on three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold Bronze represents the "beginner" level, and Gold represents the highest attainable level of regenerative organic production. This tiered approach allows producers to adjust and adapt their practices over time and allows for continuous improvement. Annual audits by an independent certification body, such as Ecocert, are required at all levels.

Each level requires a different number and scope of regenerative organic practices. Additionally, higher percentages of farming land are expected to be included in the certification for higher levels. Farms are required to increase the percentage of included land over time. In order to obtain Gold level, all farming land must be managed according to regenerative organic practices.

More information on the percentages to adopt see ROC™ Framework

Key figures ROC x Ecocert

30 clients are "Regenerative Organic Certified™" in 2022 (to date) by 16 qualified auditors in Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Ivory Coast, Congo, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Peru, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, USA and Paraguay!

Get a quote "Regenerative Organic Certified™" by Ecocert teams

Source : Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) - The Good Goods