Organic and regenerative

Regenerative and organic agriculture

Both organic and regenerative agriculture share a common goal of creating a food system that benefits the environment and society.

Regenerative agriculture is grounded in the organic movement. The term "regenerative" was initially coined by an organic pioneer in the United States, and many academic studies on regenerative farming are conducted on certified organic farms.

Organic agriculture, with its established principles and practices, aligns closely with the best aspects of regenerative agriculture.

This shared foundation presents an opportunity for regenerative practices to reinforce and amplify the principles of organic agriculture.

Organic is regenerative

The objectives laid out the organic regulation are designed to:

• enhance the health of soil, water, plants and animals

• contribute to high biodiversity

• use resources responsibly

• respect high levels of animal welfare

Certification is legally required to grow, process or market organic products, and all organic farms and companies are inspected by a certification body at least once a year.

At Soil Association Certification, we also certify to higher organic standards which go beyond the legal minimum in areas such as animal welfare, the environment and human health.

Download the infographics

Our infographics outline five key messages:

1. organic is regenerative: because organic farms are managed without artificial fertilisers, they already routinely incorporate many beneficial regenerative practices such as cover cropping, long, diverse rotations, incorporating livestock and growing nitrogen fixing legumes

2. organic is about more than soil health: organic standards insist on a holistic, whole farm system approach to sustainable farming that starts with soil but goes much further, enhancing biodiversity and delivering the UK’s highest standards for animal welfare

3. organic is regulated by law: organic is underpinned by a set of robust standards that are independently audited and verified

4. organic manages weeds without chemicals: minimising soil disturbance is often mentioned as a key benefit of regenerative agriculture, yet the plough is often replaced with weedkillers such as glyphosate, which are banned under organic standards

5. organic and regenerative can learn from each other: organic farmers have been innovating for decades, and the rise in regenerative farming could help fast-track exciting opportunities for innovation, tech, and research and development

Advertising guidance

We welcome the enthusiasm and innovation that the regenerative movement brings and believe that genuine regenerative advocates and the organic movement are often one and the same.

We are also cautious about the risks of greenwashing when it comes to the term regenerative, and recognise organic certification as the most comprehensive, verifiable, legally protected benchmark for regenerative agriculture.

Due to the increasing use of the term regenerative in marketing, the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has provided guidance and is continuing to monitor its usage where concerns are raised.