Organic, regenerative or both? The new standard in sustainable AGF

Organic: certified without chemical agents 

Organic farming focuses on growing crops without synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilisers, while maintaining biodiversity and soil health. Certifications such as EU Organic and USDA Organic guarantee that products are grown according to these principles. 

Regenerative agriculture: broad approach without fixed certification 

Regenerative agriculture is a broad approach that focuses on soil restoration, biodiversity and climate adaptation. Unlike organic, there is no set definition or certification. 

Key principles within regenerative agriculture are: 
✔️ Soil regeneration through minimal tillage, green manuring and crop rotation 
✔️ Carbon storage through soil management and agroforestry 
✔️ Limitation of input use such as fertilisers and pesticides 

However, the use of synthetic inputs is not ruled out. Some regenerative farmers work completely without chemical inputs, while others still apply them partially, depending on their region and farming practices. Research shows that regenerative agriculture is highly context-dependent and practical implementation varies. (Source: PMC, 2021) 

Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC): the 'gold standard' of sustainable agriculture 

Because regenerative agriculture did not have an established certification and existing organic certifications did not go far enough, Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) was launched in 2017 by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), an initiative of Rodale Institute, Dr Bronner's and Patagonia. 

ROC is an umbrella certificate that combines three pillars: 
✅ Soil health - Active soil restoration and carbon sequestration 
✅ Animal welfare - Stricter standards than organic, such as free-range farming 
✅ Social justice - Fair wages, labour rights and community development 

ROC uses USDA Organic as its base and adds additional sustainability criteria. As a result, ROC goes beyond both organic and regenerative agriculture. 

ROC's goal is to create a sustainable food chain that restores agriculture, nature and communities. Companies that are ROC-certified meet the strictest standards worldwide. (Source: regenorganic.org) 

The infographic below, developed by Nature's Path Food, gives a clear overview of the differences between conventional, regenerative, organic and bio-regenerative agriculture: 

Infographic developed by Nature's Path Food 

Demeter: biodynamic with a holistic vision 

The Demeter label is the oldest form of regenerative agriculture and one of the strictest organic certifications. Demeter farmers follow biodynamic principles, such as: 

• Subsistence farming (own compost and seeds) 
• Cosmic cycles (e.g. sowing according to lunar calendar) 
• Livestock manure and preparations (such as horn manure) 

Demeter certification focuses primarily on cultivation methods and strengthening natural ecosystems, but does not include explicit social criteria such as fair wages and labour rights, as with Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC). (Source: demeter.net) 

Sustainability in AGF: no longer an afterthought 

Sustainability in agriculture is not a trend, but is increasingly becoming the norm. Whereas organic has offered a clear standard for years, regenerative agriculture is increasingly mentioned - sometimes as serious sustainability, but sometimes as a minimal adaptation without strict guarantees. Certifications such as EU Organic, USDA Organic, Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) and Demeter help distinguish between isolated efforts and real impact. 

The shift to a more sustainable food system is in full swing.