What Does Regenerative Organic Certified® Actually Mean and Why Does it Matter?

A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF REGENERATIVE ORGANIC CERTIFIED® STANDARDS IN FOOD, FIBER, AND WELLNESS HERBS AND HOW IT PROTECTS SOIL, ANIMALS, AND PEOPLE

Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) is more than just a label to sell products. It is a promise, representing a commitment to farming and production practices that actively restore the land, care for animals, and ensure fairness for farmers and farmworkers. While traditional organic certification establishes a foundation by banning synthetic chemicals, ROC goes further. It sets high standards for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness, creating a system where the health of people, animals, and the planet is interconnected.

The certification has gained traction because consumers increasingly want to know where their food and wellness herbs come from and how they are made. ROC offers transparency and accountability, bridging the gap between ethical intention and measurable impact. Regenerative organic practices also focus on preserving and rebuilding topsoil, which has been depleted over decades of conventional agriculture, ensuring long-term fertility and nutrient-rich crops. With these practices, farms sequester carbon, produce nutrient-rich crops, respect animals, and support farm communities in ways conventional methods cannot.

The Roots of Regenerative Organic Certified®

Regenerative organic agriculture is rooted in practices that are centuries old, often drawn from Indigenous knowledge. The term “regenerative organic” emerged to distinguish these methods from conventional organic practices, focusing not just on avoiding harm but actively improving the planet.

Founded in 2017, the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) brought together farmers, business leaders, and experts in soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness to create the ROC standard. The certification was designed to go beyond organic: it sets benchmarks that recognize farms for regenerative practices, ethical animal treatment, and fairness for the people who work the land.

By adhering to ROC, producers signal that they are committed to practices that go beyond compliance - they are invested in creating an enduring system and healthier products for everyone.

Soil Health: The Foundation of Regenerative Organic Certified®

One of the three main goals of Regenerative Organic Certified® farms is healthy soil. This is achieved by adopting strategies that promote nutrient restoration in soil. Regenerative organic practices include cover cropping, which keeps the ground covered year-round. This ROC method draws nitrogen into the soil. Additionally, crop rotation is used to balance nutrient use and prevent pests naturally.

Conservation tillage and minimal soil disturbance protect the structure of the soil and the microbial life within it. Over time, ROC methods build organic matter, improve water retention, and increase biodiversity. This leads to the creation of fields that are better equipped to survive droughts and diseases. Composting and rotational grazing add nutrients back into the soil, completing a cycle that nurtures the land instead of depleting it.

ROC certification prohibits synthetic fertilizers and genetically modified organisms, which ensures that crops grow in naturally healthy soil. Farms that meet the ROC standards not only produce more nutritious food and more potent wellness herbs but also contribute to long-term carbon sequestration.

Restoring Topsoil and Protecting the Future

Healthy topsoil is the foundation of productive, sustainable farming, yet conventional practices have depleted it over decades. Regenerative Organic Certified® methods actively restore soil health by building organic matter, enhancing microbial life, and improving nutrient density. 

These practices help replenish what was lost, creating fields that retain water better, resist erosion, and support stronger, more nutrient-rich crops. By prioritizing topsoil restoration, regenerative farms not only improve plant potency and wellness benefits but also contribute to long-term carbon sequestration and a resilient agricultural system for future generations.

Animal Welfare: The Heart of Regenerative Organic Certified®

Regenerative Organic Certified® farms must ensure that animals are treated with respect. The “Five Freedoms” guide these ROC standards, guaranteeing freedom from hunger, discomfort, pain, fear, and restriction of natural behavior. Livestock are raised on pasture, rotated through paddocks to nourish the land with nutrient-rich manure, and provided with suitable shelter.

By avoiding factory-style confinement and limiting transport, Regenerative Organic Certified® farms are able to protect the health and dignity of animals. Grass-fed and pasture-raised ROC practices also improve the quality of animal products, including milk, meat, and eggs.

Social Fairness for Farmers and Farmworkers: The Soul of Regenerative Organic Certified®

Regenerative Organic Certified® extends beyond soil and animals to the people who work the land. Farmers and farmworkers receive long-term support, training, and capacity-building resources, ensuring that the communities producing our food, fibers, and wellness herbs are thriving.

Embedding social fairness as a core principle of Regenerative Organic Certified® farming creates a farm system that respects human rights, and it builds strong and enduring rural economies. This ethical focus ensures that the promise of regenerative organic practices reaches every person, not just customers.

Why Regenerative Organic Certified® Matters

Regenerative Organic Certified® represents the integration of soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness into a single standard, raising the bar above conventional organic certification. When consumers see Regenerative Organic Certified®, this means transparency and practices that genuinely improve environmental, animal, and human health.

The Regenerative Organic Certified® standard also combats greenwashing by tying the term “regenerative” to rigorous criteria, rather than allowing it to be a marketing buzzword. Every Regenerative Organic Certified® product represents measurable progress in creating a food and wellness system that is ethical and regenerative.

Elevate Organic’s Regenerative Organic Certified® Goal

Elevate Organic’s goal is to move all products toward regenerative organic practices. Regenerative Organic Certified® is the standard of the future, and Elevate Organic is committed to making this standard accessible through high-quality, scientifically backed wellness herbs.

By partnering directly with farmers, Elevate Organic helps drive the adoption of regenerative organic practices, ensuring that more ingredients are grown responsibly, sustainably, and with integrity. This collaboration not only supports farming communities but also increases the availability of regenerative organic botanicals, so more people can benefit from herbs cultivated with care for the soil, the environment, and the people who work the land.