As consumers become more intentional about where their food comes from, the word organic alone is no longer enough. Shoppers want to know how food is grown, how animals are treated, and whether farming practices protect the planet long term. That growing awareness has fueled interest in regenerative organic certification, often referred to as ROC.
Unlike conventional organic labeling, this certification focuses on restoring ecosystems—not just avoiding harmful inputs. It represents an important evolution in organic standards, offering consumers a clearer sign that food is produced with soil, animals, and people in mind. The significance of regenerative organic agriculture lies in its recognized ability to combat global warming and promote soil health, making it a significant method for fostering a sustainable future. Regenerative Organic Certified® is a revolutionary certification for food, textiles, and personal care ingredients.
Brands play a crucial role in supporting and promoting regenerative organic certification and practices, helping consumers make choices that prioritize health, environmental sustainability, and fair practices.
Regenerative organic certification is a third-party certification program overseen by the Regenerative Organic Alliance. It builds upon existing USDA organic standards, meaning farms must already be certified organic before they can qualify.
From there, the ROC program adds stricter requirements around:
This layered approach strengthens trust in the organic label by focusing on outcomes, not just rules.
Traditional organic certification—regulated through the National Organic Program and informed by the National Organic Standards Board—plays an essential role in protecting consumers and farmers. However, it does not always require practices that actively improve soil or ecosystem function. Ongoing review of organic standards and regulations is critical to ensure transparency, integrity, and continuous improvement in organic certification.
ROC introduces new rules designed to encourage regenerative organic agriculture, a system that restores soil, supports biodiversity, and helps farms adapt to climate change. Effective enforcement of both new and existing organic standards is essential to maintain trust, prevent fraud, and ensure compliance within the organic industry. NOC is urging the USDA to continue making progress to update the organic standards to evolve along with the latest science. NOC also anticipates NOP action on at least two new rules in 2024 regarding nitrogen use and organic market development.
Rather than simply avoiding damage, regenerative organic practices aim to leave the land better than it was found.
The ROC certification process is built on three equally important pillars that reflect the interconnected nature of farming systems.
Healthy farms start with healthy soil. ROC-certified organic farms must demonstrate practices that improve soil structure and biological activity over time, such as:
Improving soil health helps crops become more resilient, increases nutrient availability, and supports long-term farm productivity.
ROC establishes clear expectations for how animals raised on certified farms are treated. These standards go beyond basic organic requirements and focus on:
Prioritizing animal welfare leads to healthier animals, healthier food, and more ethical farming systems.
Farming is about people as much as land. ROC standards require that farmers, ranchers, and workers be treated fairly, with attention to:
This pillar ensures the process of food production supports thriving rural communities—not just profitable farms.
Education is a cornerstone of progress in regenerative organic agriculture. The Regenerative Organic Alliance recognizes that empowering both organic farmers and consumers with knowledge is essential for building a healthier planet. Through innovative programs like the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports, and Entertainment, individuals have the opportunity to learn about sustainable farming practices, soil health, and animal welfare—skills that are increasingly vital in today’s food system.
By making educational resources accessible, the Regenerative Organic Alliance helps organic farms and farmers stay up to date with the latest advancements in organic production and regenerative practices. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) also plays a key role, offering guidelines and support to help farms implement and maintain high organic standards in line with USDA organic standards.
For consumers, education means understanding what the organic label truly represents and how regenerative organic certification goes a step further. For farmers, it means having the tools and knowledge to improve soil health, care for animals responsibly, and adopt practices that benefit both their land and their communities. By prioritizing education, we create a ripple effect—empowering everyone involved in the food system to make choices that support the health of people and the planet.
Community involvement is at the heart of regenerative organic farming’s success. Organizations like Roc Nation Sports International are helping to drive social fairness and community engagement within the agricultural sector, ensuring that the benefits of regenerative organic agriculture reach beyond individual farms to entire communities.
Supporting local organic farmers and ranchers is a powerful way for consumers to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable food system. Initiatives from the Rodale Institute, such as the Regenerative Organic Certified® program, encourage community participation and collaboration, promoting healthy soil, animals, and crops through shared knowledge and resources.
The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) further supports these efforts by providing guidelines and resources for community-led organic production projects. By working together—farmers, ranchers, consumers, and organizations—we can create a food system that reflects the values of regenerative organic agriculture: social fairness, environmental stewardship, and long-term resilience. Community involvement not only strengthens the impact of regenerative practices but also ensures that the movement toward healthier food and a healthier planet is truly inclusive and sustainable.
Food labeling can be confusing, especially when terms like “natural” or “eco-friendly” are used without clear definitions. The ROC label gives consumers confidence that a product meets verified, transparent standards.
The number of ROC-certified farms, acres, and products continues to grow, demonstrating the scale and credibility of the regenerative organic movement. ROC offers transparent assurance that products support healing the planet, combating climate change, and promoting social justice. It also provides market differentiation, allowing farmers to access premium pricing from brands like Patagonia and Dr. Bronner’s. Choosing ROC ensures products are free from over 900 synthetic pesticides, protecting consumers from health risks. Consumers can directly invest in carbon sequestration and biodiversity restoration through ROC farms.
By choosing food produced under regenerative organic certification, consumers support:
For many shoppers, ROC serves as a trusted sign that values match production.
Regenerative organic systems help address some of the most pressing challenges in modern agriculture, including soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate instability. By strengthening organic standards, ROC supports farms that are actively investing in the future.
Organizations like the Rodale Institute have long advocated for regenerative approaches, and the ROC program brings those principles into a formal, enforceable certification.
For organic farmers, ROC provides a framework for continuous improvement. It rewards farms that prioritize long-term soil vitality, responsible animal care, and ethical business practices.
For consumers, it offers clarity in a crowded marketplace—helping them make informed food choices that align with their values.
At Doudlah Farms, organic farming has always been about stewardship—protecting soil, respecting animals, and producing food with integrity. While not all farms pursue the same certifications, understanding systems like regenerative organic certification helps consumers recognize the deeper values behind how food is grown.
Supporting farms that prioritize strong organic standards strengthens local agriculture, protects the land, and contributes to a healthier food system for everyone.
Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) is a third-party certification that goes beyond USDA Organic standards. It verifies that food is produced using practices that actively improve soil health, protect animal welfare, and ensure fair treatment of farmers and workers. ROC focuses on restoring ecosystems—not just avoiding harmful inputs.
While USDA organic certification limits synthetic pesticides and GMOs, it does not always require practices that rebuild soil or ecosystems. ROC builds on organic certification by adding stricter, outcome-based standards for soil regeneration, animal welfare, and social fairness—ensuring farms leave the land better than they found it.
Healthy soil is the foundation of a resilient food system. Regenerative organic practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, and composting improve soil structure, increase biodiversity, and help store carbon in the ground. This leads to more nutrient-dense food, healthier crops, and farming systems that are better equipped to handle climate challenges.
No. Regenerative Organic Certified® applies to food, textiles, and personal care ingredients. Any product carrying the ROC label must meet verified standards across the entire supply chain, ensuring integrity from farm to finished product.
The ROC label gives consumers confidence that their food choices support environmental health, ethical labor practices, and responsible animal care. Choosing ROC-aligned products helps promote soil regeneration, biodiversity, and a more resilient food system—benefiting both people and the planet.
