The Era of Certified Regenerative Agriculture Is Underway
Like organic farming, regenerative agriculture eschews synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. It also brings the focus to topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, and conservation of natural resources. But unlike organic farming, there are currently no federal standards for regenerative agriculture, which some say threatens the integrity of the claim and makes it prone to greenwashing.
The USDA has increased its commitment to making America’s farming system more sustainable, however. Last month, the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of $70 million into sustainable agricultural projects that integrate research, education, and Extension efforts.
While it doesn’t explicitly name regenerative agriculture as part of that program, it says the goal “is to establish robust, resilient, and climate-smart food and agricultural systems.”
Verified regenerative agriculture programs
While American farmers and companies wait for the USDA to get behind regenerative agriculture, there are third-party verification programs already in place.