This article is written by IFOAM – Organics International World Board members Sarah Compson and Paul Holmbeck.
With the formulation and launch of the statement from the global organic movement “Elevating Truly Regenerative Agriculture,” IFOAM – Organics International has struck a chord with both members and allies. This includes serious regenerative actors and agroecology friends, who are seen as natural allies in work for transforming food systems.
IFOAM – Organics International members have asked to see IFOAM’s leadership on this important issue, which is why the Organic World Congress was an opportunity to formulate a response to the regenerative momentum that captures both the challenges and opportunities in front of us.
Six months since it launched, it feels like a good moment to highlight how the statement has been used to set a regenerative organic agenda and share some lessons on effective ways for members and allies to help spread the word as well as respond to problematic regenerative claims or hype.
Judging by the general response to the statement as well as success in recent debates, panel discussions and social media exchanges, the statement seems to have hit a good balance of embracing serious actors and regenerative principles, while calling out greenwashing in regen claims and corporate regen-rebranding.
With the formulation and launch of the statement from the global organic movement “Elevating Truly Regenerative Agriculture,” IFOAM – Organics International has struck a chord with both members and allies. This includes serious regenerative actors and agroecology friends, who are seen as natural allies in work for transforming food systems.
Members wanted to send several messages:
How is IFOAM – Organics International taking action?
The pivotal role that organic agriculture plays in delivering regenerative ambitions sits at the heart of our advocacy, yet there’s also a pressing need to call out the alarming misuse and co-option of the term ‘regenerative agriculture’.
It’s an exceedingly big tent, and alongside serious regenerative actors who stand with organic agriculture, there are also a host of opportunistic corporate, organizational and consulting interests that have no intention of challenging the degenerative status quo.
The proof of this came in late April in a report Rethinking No-till by Friends of the Earth finding toxic herbicides on 93% of no-till “regenerative” acreage in the U.S. where most were “highly hazardous” with negative impacts on soil and health. Levels were even higher than in conventional farming. The report also challenged claims that no-till regen is a climate solution, citing extensive scientific research showing no clear relationship between no-till and soil carbon sequestration.
It is easy to see why no-till regen is promoted by the world’s largest producers of pesticides, like Bayer and Syngenta. But the report shows that the foxes are in the regen hen house and it’s time to let out the dog and patch the fence.
IFOAM – Organics International focus on the report catalyzed responses from numerous regenerative actors, stating clearly that “this is not regenerative.” If we want a farming system that improves soil health and human health, and farming that works with nature and not against her, we can’t spray poison again and again across millions of hectares. The billions being invested in “regenerative” agriculture should support farmers that nourish the soil and us, not line pockets in the pesticide industry.
The organisation is already implementing many of the actions in the member statement on regen. We have called-out greenwashing by pesticide companies in articles and social media, and promoted the report on pesticide use in “regenerative” agriculture. Our members have started dialogues with serious regenerative actors, joined panels and webinars on regen and presented this global position at BIOFACH, Expo West and other events, generating dialogue and debate. On top of that, IFOAM Organics Europe is leading the work with certifiers on approaches to integrating regenerative outcomes in organic certifications, creating value for farmers, value-chain actors and consumers.
IFOAM Organics Europe is leading the work with certifiers on approaches to integrating regenerative outcomes in organic certifications, creating value for farmers, value-chain actors and consumers.
We don’t need to go down a rabbit hole of negative campaigns. We can welcome and encourage adoption of more regen (organic) practices like cover crops, crop diversity and rotation in conventional farming, to lift the bar. But we need to also ensure that market actors and politicians are sensitized and informed about the real risk of greenwashing in both regen market claims and policy proposals.
It’s also an important moment for the organic sector to get on the offensive ourselves, working with policy makers and market actors to showcase how organic delivers regenerative aspirations.
What you can do, and resources that help
There are many small and larger efforts that members can contribute to, in order to set an organic agenda within the regenerative ecosystem:
Additional Resources
- Statement from the global organic movement: Elevating Truly Regenerative Agriculture
- Report from Friends of the Earth: Rethinking No-Till
- Report from FAIRR: The Four Labours of Regenerative Agriculture
- Organic Voices: Concerns with Regenerative Agriculture Labels
Paul Holmbeck, director of Holmbeck EcoConsult. He advises governments, organisations and business leaders around the world on organic market strategies and development of strong new policy advancing organic farming, public procurement, market growth and consumer support. Paul was selected by the European Commission to present best organic policy practices for ministries in the 27 EU states and supports work today in Tanzania, Canada, Uganda and The Netherlands. He is the former Director of Organic Denmark and is currently a member of the World Board in IFOAM – Organics International.
Sarah Compson oversees our work on standards and organic regulation for food and farming. She works closely with the international organic community to bring organic principles to life through standards.
Sarah is particularly involved with IFOAM – the umbrella organisation for the organic movement. She is a member of the IFOAM – Organics International World Board, chairs the IFOAM Organics Europe’s Interest Group of Organic Processors and Traders and is a member of the Board of IOAS – the International Organic Accreditation Service. She is also a member of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Standard’s Committee.
