Organic is Regenerative

Organic is regenerative. That’s right, Organic farming is inherently beneficial for soil and ecosystem health and combats climate change! While consumers often associate organic farming with simply not using synthetic pesticides, Organic is so much more than that. Organic is a holistic production method that promotes human, animal, soil, and ecosystem health. Organic farming can be a key tool in our arsenal to combat climate change, while also bolstering rural economies and promoting human health and wellbeing.

What makes organic regenerative?

Many of the practices associated with the ill-defined, spottily enforced, and otherwise nebulous label “regenerative” are requirements to become a certified organic producer. Well-meaning and eco-conscious consumers can find themselves falling prey to these greenwashing labels. That’s why it’s important to continue to invest in regulated labels like Organic.

Organic producers are required to use many of those same practices that consumers associate with regenerative farming. For example, Organic producers are required to use cover crops; rotate crops; use compost, mulch, green manure, or crop residue; and protect soil. Regulation also encourages organic farmers to adopt low- and no-till practices—another set of practices associated with (but not necessarily required by) regenerative labels. While regenerative labels do not specifically enforce these standards, organic farmers are prohibited by regulation from using synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and genetically engineered seeds.

Organic also promotes biodiversity and soil health. Those practices organic producers are required to utilize like cover cropping, crop rotations, and the application of compost, mulch, green manure, or crop residues help build protect and soil fertility. Organic farming protects pollinators, keystone insects for our food systems! Organic does not use synthetic pesticides, which includes neonicotinoids, a pesticide associated with colony collapse. Organic farms are also more biodiverse: studies show that organic farms are 50% more biodiverse than conventional farms, playing host to a wide variety of animals and insects.

Why organic?

Much like other terms associated with greenwashing (e.g. sustainable, natural, green) regenerative has no set definition. While some producers who use the regenerative label are doing everything right; protecting soil- and ecosystem-health; less scrupulous producers are taking advantage of it to greenwash their product and charge a premium. Because of the Organic label’s federal regulation consumers don’t have to worry about it being a meaningless term used to greenwash and put a premium on their produce; organic standards actively promote soil-health and biodiversity.

Marbleseed's Organic is Regenerative campaign is funded by the Farmer's Advocating for Organic grant program. This work is adapted from Organic Farming Research Foundation's Organic is Regenerative Toolkit. Learn more here.

Downloadable social tool kit coming soon!