The term “regenerative” may be the new buzzword in the agriculture industry, but it’s nothing new to the land.
For over 50 years, organic farmers have used regenerative practices like crop rotations, cover crops, compost, and reduced tillage to build healthy soil and protect ecosystems—all without synthetic inputs. Organic is regenerative. What sets it apart is that it’s already established and trusted by consumers, federally defined, verified by third-party inspectors, and holds the highest credibility among food or farming label.
At the recent 2025 Regenerative Agriculture Summit North America, CCOF joined hundreds of industry leaders to ask: How can we work together to fight climate change and protect soil health? One clear consensus emerged: meet farmers where they are. CCOF does exactly that—offering mentorship and technical support through the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program, as well as tools like our Certified Transitional program and other resources to help producers move away from chemical inputs and toward long-term resilience.
Unlike some regenerative programs that allow synthetic pesticides, organic draws a clear line. For those seeking deeper recognition, Regenerative Organic Certification—built on top of organic standards—adds stronger benchmarks for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.
Organic isn’t reactive—it’s proactive. It’s a shift in mindset that prioritizes long-term health over short-term fixes. Organic farmer and Summit panelist Rick Clark of Farm Green LLC shared how adopting regenerative organic practices has helped reduce costs on his farm:
“We’re getting double the price for our organic corn, with half the expense compared to my conventional neighbors. We were spending half a million on chemicals to kill weeds that were becoming resistant. That’s an oxymoron!”
With fewer than 60 harvests of viable topsoil remaining, we must work together around solutions we already know work. This isn’t the time to reinvent the wheel—it’s time to build on it.