MenuRegenerative Organic Alliance
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Founded by Patagonia and Dr. Bronners, the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) is a revolutionary, holistic agriculture certification encompassing pasture-based animal welfare, fairness for farmers and supply chain workers, and robust requirements for soil health and land management. The Regenerative Organic Alliance will oversee the Regenerative Organic Certification framework and guidelines. Regenerative Organic Certification is a cooperative effort among a coalition of farmers, ranchers, nonprofits, scientists, and brands, led by Rodale Institute, to establish a new, high-bar standard for regenerative organic agriculture.
Mission Statement
Farm like the world depends on it.
The Regenerative Organic Alliance exists to promote regenerative organic farming as the highest standard for agriculture around the world.
We emphasize farming practices that restore and build soil, ensure animal welfare, and end unfair conditions for farmers and farmworkers. In doing so, we’re creating long-term solutions to some of the biggest issues of our time, including the climate crisis, factory farming, and fractured rural economies.
We exist to heal a broken system, repair a damaged planet, and empower farmers and eaters to create a better future through better farming.
ROA’s Vision
We envision a world free of poisonous chemicals, factory farming, exploitation and income inequality, soil degradation, habitat destruction, pollution, short-term thinking, corporate bullies, greenwashing, and fake food.
Instead, we imagine a world in which farmers, brands, policymakers, educators, researchers, and citizens join together to create a healthy food system that respects land and animals, empowers people, and restores communities and ecosystems through regenerative organic farming.
Program Details
Programs Summary – We are seeking funding to support the launch of our standard, ROC, and our non-profit programs this coming Spring 2020. In April, we will launch our global certification, ROC, with labeled products being available on shelves. With the anticipation of this launch, we are looking for operational funding to support staff salaries and strategic organizational growth. We are looking to hire on our current Programs Development Associate full-time, hire a Communications Manager, and hire a Standard Manager. We are expecting to be financially self-sustaining through our certification program in approximately three years and are therefore requesting short-term funding.
The ROA also requires funding for other programs:
Consumer Education Program – We are at a pivotal moment when the word ‘regenerative’ risks being greenwashed due to its wide-spread adoption by industrial agriculture companies and commodity food brands. Through our Allies program, we are hoping to partner with companies that are aligned with the ROA’s values and educate consumers on regenerative organic practices. Our consumer education program includes marketing and consulting fees, go-to-market strategy development, and travel costs for panels, conferences, events, and TED Talks the ROA has been invited to speak at.
Open-Source Soil Health Database – We are seeking funding to develop and host an online, open-source comprehensive soil health database. We will synthesize data that already exist from sources like Rodale Institute, the UN, Cornell and incorporate data collected through our certification audits (our Pilot Program Audits began last week). Currently, there is no open-source soil health database that exists, and one is necessary to make scientific claims about the long-term benefits of regenerative organic agriculture.
