Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) represents a transformative approach to sustainable agriculture, emphasizing not just organic practices but also the health of the soil, animal welfare, and social fairness. ROC serves as a comprehensive framework for farmers committed to enhancing their environmental impact while ensuring ethical treatment of workers and livestock. This article delves into the key components and benefits of ROC, guiding farmers on their journey toward certification.
What is Regenerative Organic Certification
Regenerative Organic Certification, or ROC for short, is a special way to check if farms are doing a great job at taking care of the earth, animals, and people.
It started in 2017 thanks to a group called the Regenerative Organic Alliance. This group includes well-known companies like Patagonia and the Rodale Institute, who really care about how food is grown.ROC is like a superhero badge for farms.
It helps them go beyond just being organic. While organic farming is good, ROC adds extra rules to make sure farms are also helping the environment and treating everyone fairly.
Key Components of Regenerative Organic Certification
Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) is all about making farming better for the planet, animals, and people. It has three main parts, or pillars, that help guide farmers to use good practices. Let’s break them down!
Soil Health
Soil health is super important! Farmers use special methods to make the soil rich and full of life. They do things like:
- Cover Cropping: This means planting crops that cover the soil when other crops aren’t growing. It helps keep the soil safe and healthy.
- Crop Rotation: Farmers change what they plant in each field every year. This keeps pests away and makes the soil even better.
- Conservation Tillage: Instead of digging up the soil a lot, farmers try to disturb it as little as possible. This helps keep the tiny creatures in the soil happy and healthy.
By doing these things, farmers can improve the soil without using any chemicals or synthetic stuff.
Animal Welfare
Animals on farms deserve to be treated well! ROC makes sure that livestock are cared for in a kind way. Here’s how:
- Pasture-Raised: Animals should have plenty of space to roam outside and eat grass.
- The Five Freedoms: This is a set of rules that ensures animals are safe and comfortable. It includes giving them proper shelter, enough food, and reducing stress during transport.
When animals are treated well, they’re healthier and happier!
Social Fairness
Fairness is key for everyone involved in farming. ROC focuses on:
- Fair Wages: Farmers and workers should earn enough money to support their families.
- Safe Working Conditions: Everyone should work in a place that is safe and healthy.
This pillar helps build strong communities where everyone feels valued and respected.
Requirements for Regenerative Organic Certification
All operations must be certified organic before they can pursue ROC. This establishes a foundational compliance with organic farming practices
Baseline Certification
Before a farm can get Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC), it must first be certified organic. This means the farm has to follow certain rules about how to grow food without using harmful chemicals. This step is important because it ensures the farm is already using good organic practices.
Levels of Certification
ROC has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level has different requirements:
- Bronze Level: The farm needs to have at least 10% of its land or revenue certified organic at the beginning. By the fifth year, this must increase to at least 50%.
- Silver Level: The farm must start with at least 50% certified organic land or revenue and reach 75% by the fifth year.
- Gold Level: The farm must have 100% of its land used for food or fiber production certified organic.
Check USDA Organic Certification labels here.
Other Requirements
- Regenerative Practices: In addition to being organic, farms must use methods that improve soil health, like planting cover crops and rotating crops. They cannot use synthetic (man-made) chemicals.
- Animal Welfare: Farms must treat animals well, providing them with safe and comfortable living conditions.
- Social Fairness: The certification requires that farmers and workers are paid fairly and work in safe conditions.
- Annual Audits: Farms must have yearly checks to make sure they are still following all the rules for ROC.
- Supply Chain Transparency: Farms need to show where their products come from and ensure that everything they claim about their products is true.
- Regulatory Compliance: Farms must follow all local, state, and national laws related to labor rights and environmental protection.
By meeting these requirements, farms can earn ROC status, which helps them show that they are committed to sustainable and ethical farming practices. This certification is increasingly important as more people want to buy food that is produced responsibly.
Process of Obtaining Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC)
The journey to getting Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) is exciting and involves several clear steps. Let’s break it down simply so anyone can understand!
Step 1: Start with an Online Application
Fill Out the Application: First, go to the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) website and fill out the online application. You’ll need to upload important documents like a map of your land, your organic system plan, any current certifications, and your agreement with ROA.
Gather Your Documents: Make sure you have everything ready. This includes a special plan called the Regenerative Organic System Plan (ROSP) and any supply chain information.
Step 2: Create Your Regenerative Organic System Plan (ROSP)
Personalize Your Plan: After you submit your application, the ROA will help you by providing a customized ROSP based on what you already have certified. Complete this plan carefully and send it back.
Stay in Touch: The ROA team might contact you if they have questions or need more information.
Step 3: Work with a Certifying Body
Get an Auditor: Once your ROSP is ready, the ROA will assign a certifying body (CB) to you. This body will choose an auditor who will come to check your farm.
Understand the Audit: The auditor will look at how well you follow both organic rules and ROC standards, which include caring for soil, animals, and fair treatment of workers.
Step 4: On-Site Audit
Audit Time: The auditor visits your farm to see if you meet ROC standards. They will check how you manage soil, treat animals, and ensure good working conditions for everyone.
Receive a Report: After the visit, the certifying body will write a report that details what they found and their recommendations.
Step 5: Get Certified!
Certification Decision: Based on the auditor’s report, the certifying body will recommend whether you get ROC certification. If everything looks good, you’ll receive a certificate showing that your farm is now certified!
Start Marketing: Now that you’re certified, you can proudly market your products as Regenerative Organic Certified® and connect with consumers who care about sustainable farming.
Step 6: Keep It Up with Annual Checks
Desk Audit: Within three to six months after getting certified, you’ll have a desk audit to make sure you’re still following ROC standards. This helps keep track of your certified products.
Annual Recertification: Every year, you’ll need to go through another audit to maintain your certification status and show that you’re still meeting all ROC requirements.
By following these steps, farmers can achieve ROC status and contribute to healthier farming practices!
How long does it take to get regenerative organic certification?
Getting Regenerative Organic Certification is an exciting journey! Usually, it takes about three to six months to complete the process. However, this time can change depending on a few things like where your farm is located, when you harvest your crops, and how quickly auditors are available to help you.
- Apply Online: First, you fill out an online application and send in all the necessary documents. This is like telling the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) about your farm and what you do.
- Review Time: After you submit everything, the ROA takes about two weeks to review your application. They will check if everything is in order and then assign your application to a certifying body that will help with the next steps.
- Expedited Process: If your farm already meets USDA organic standards, you might get through this process a bit faster! But remember, fully meeting all Regenerative Organic Certification requirements can still take some extra time depending on your situation.
So, while it sounds like a lot of work, it’s all about making sure your farm is doing great things for the environment and producing high-quality food! If you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Everyone at ROA is eager to support you on this journey!
Cost of Getting Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC)
The cost of getting Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) can change depending on a few things, like how big your farm is and how many pieces of land you have. Here’s a simple look at the typical fees involved:
Application Fees
- Less than five parcels: $350
- Five parcels or more: $550
- ICS Managed Grower Groups: $1,000
Annual Fees
Once you get certified, there are yearly fees based on how much your crops are worth:
- Flat fee: Either $250 or $500
Additional Costs
- Certification Body Fees: These fees depend on the certifying body you choose. They can vary a lot based on your farm’s size, where it is, and what services you need.
- Travel and Accommodation: If the auditor needs to come to your farm, you’ll have to pay for their travel and stay.
Other Considerations
- The highest application fee for farmers applying for all three ROC pillars (which are soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness) can go up to $1,200.
- If you need extra audits, they might cost an additional $200 per hour.
For more details about fees and what you need to do, it’s a good idea to talk directly with the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) or the certifying body you pick. This way, you can get the most accurate information for your situation!
Financial Assistance for ROC (Regenerative Organic Certification)
Farmers who want to get Regenerative Organic Certification can find several ways to help pay for it. Here are some friendly options they can explore:
1. Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
This program gives farmers up to $750 to help cover the costs of getting certified organic. Farmers can apply through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) or sometimes through a state agency. The money can be used for certification fees and other related expenses incurred between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.
2. CCOF Financial Assistance Program
The California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) offers help to farmers who might not have had the same chances as others. This includes waiving application fees and lowering annual fees for three years. It also supports farmers in Mexico and those affected by disasters.
3. Regenerative Organic Alliance Farmer Cost-Share Program
This program is specifically for farmers who are applying for Regenerative Organic Certification. It aims to make it easier for them to handle the costs involved in getting this special certification.
4. Rodale Institute Funding Resources
The Rodale Institute provides various resources to help farmers switch to organic practices or improve their current ones. They offer information on funding opportunities that can assist with certification costs and other farm improvements
Check USDA Organic Certification Cost share programs here.
What to Do If Your Application for Regenerative Organic Certification Got Rejected
If your application for Regenerative Organic Certification got turned down, don’t worry! You can take some steps to make things better. Here’s a friendly guide on what to do next:
Understand Why You Were Rejected
First, look closely at the feedback from the certifying body. They will tell you why your application was not accepted. Knowing these reasons is super important because it helps you understand what to fix.
Review the Certification Requirements
Next, check the rules for Regenerative Organic Certification. Different certifiers may have different standards. Make sure you meet all the requirements before you try again. For many certifiers, having organic certification or being in the process of getting it is a must.
Fix Any Problems
Once you know why your application was rejected, work on fixing those issues. This could mean improving your farming methods, gathering more documents, or solving any compliance problems mentioned in the feedback.
Appeal the Decision
If you think your application was unfairly rejected, you can appeal. Most certifiers have a way to do this. For example, the Regenerative Organic Alliance allows applicants to challenge their certification status. Check their website for how to file an appeal.
Seek Help and Resources
Don’t hesitate to reach out to groups that support regenerative farming. They can offer advice, resources, and sometimes even funding to help you meet certification standards or navigate the appeals process.
Reapply When You’re Ready
After fixing any issues and collecting the needed documents, go ahead and reapply for certification. Be sure to highlight any improvements or changes you’ve made since your last application.By following these steps, you’ll boost your chances of getting Regenerative Organic Certification next time!
List of Documents Needed for Regenerative Organic Certification
If you want to get Regenerative Organic Certification, you’ll need to collect some important papers. Here’s a simple list of what you should gather:
1. Producer License Agreement: First, fill out and sign the Producer License Agreement. You need this before you start your application.
2. Current Certificates: Next, include all the certificates you have. These might be:
- Organic Certificates: Proving your products are organic.
- Soil Health Certificates: Showing your soil is healthy.
- Animal Welfare Certificates: Ensuring you treat animals well.
- Social Fairness Certificates: Demonstrating fair practices for workers.
3. Organic System Plan (OSP): You’ll also need an Organic System Plan. This is a detailed description of how you practice organic farming.
4. Internal Control System (ICS) Documentation: If you manage a group of growers, you’ll need to provide ICS documentation.
5. Maps: Make sure to include maps of your farm. These should show:
- The areas where you grow organic crops.
- The land you want to certify as Regenerative Organic.
6. Supply Chain Actor Disclosure Form: If your products are processed somewhere else, fill out this form.
7. Claimed Material Worksheet: This worksheet lists your product recipes and details about your supply chain.
8. Animal Welfare Certificate: If it applies to you, include this certificate to show how you care for animals.
9. Social Fairness Certificate: If relevant, add this certificate to prove that you follow fair practices for everyone involved.
Document Formats: Make sure all your documents are in the right formats! You can use PDF, JPEG, PNG, XLSX, or DOCX files.
What are the main differences between ROC and USDA Organic certifications
Here’s a comparison of Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) and USDA Organic Certification:
| Feature | USDA Organic Certification | Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Body | U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) |
| Standards and Requirements | At least 95% organic ingredients; no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs | Must meet USDA Organic standards; emphasizes soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness |
| Focus Areas | Avoiding harmful chemicals; basic animal health guidelines | Enhancing soil health, improving animal welfare, ensuring social fairness |
| Certification Process | Three-year transition period for new organic farms | Requires existing USDA Organic certification or in process; includes tiered system (Bronze, Silver, Gold) |
| Additional Certifications | No additional certifications required | Requires certifications related to animal welfare and social fairness |