How to judge a regenerative agriculture certification programme

As regenerative agriculture’s momentum continues to grow, the number of certification programmes on the market is on the increase.

The recent surge in regenerative farming’s popularity is a positive response to today’s globally worsening soil health. Using regenerative agriculture techniques supports the restoration of our planet, providing a way to farm the land that is more respectful to its natural ecosystem. Essentially, it gives us an opportunity to sustainably secure the future of our global food and textile supply.  

With a growing number of regenerative agriculture certification programmes on the market, choosing the right one for your company isn’t straightforward. How can you judge which programmes are robust enough to deliver on your needs criteria? Below we share the fundamental principles of certification, and provide a due diligence checklist to aid decision-making. 

What is certification?

In the context of regenerative agriculture, certification is a process carried out by a qualified, independent, and therefore impartial, organisation. This organisation confirms that agricultural systems, products and/or production methods meet a set of standards. The certification documentation then provides proof that the relevant standards have been met.

Certification can and should:

• build trust with clients and other stakeholders
• provide a new route to market access
• ensure compliance and fair competition 
• enhance a company’s reputation
• encourage improvements in production processes

What should you look for in a certification programme?

Each company has its own criteria to fulfil in terms of certification. You may be looking at the following non-negotiable criteria when selecting a certification programme: 

• Objective and independent
• Transparent about its processes 
• Provides assurance of integrity and traceability of products
• Opens up standards development to its stakeholders
• Takes a risk-based approach; considering and dealing with any risks that could impact its integrity as well as the reputation of the company
• Consistent
• Accessible to all eligible partners 
• Lets you make verifiable, legally sound consumer-facing claims, meeting legal requirements such as the EU Directive on Empowering Consumers (ECGT), European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) or the USA’s Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC)

Certification checklist

If you are looking for a certification programme that aligns with the above foundational principles, use this checklist as a reference point to help you carry out basic due diligence.

1. Legal structure and governance: is the standard owned and managed by a non-profit or profit-driven organisation? Is there a governance structure in place to assure impartiality?
2. Code of good practice: are the standards developed, updated and monitored using a recognized code of good practice (such as ISEAL)?
3. Third party assurance: are certifications and related assessments carried out by independent third-party certification bodies?
4. External accreditations: do the appointed certification bodies hold external accreditations for certifications activities (such as ISO 17065)?
5. Comprehensive coverage: do the standards cover the full supply chain, from farm to finished product?

The answers to the above screening questions should be made easily available by the standard owner.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that due to the importance of local farming conditions, a certification programme for regenerative agriculture must include defined standards and procedures suitable for different contexts.