New ‘Regenerative’ Food Label Coming?

What’s the story?

• Farmers and food companies have been discussing adding a new eco-label to produce grown with methods that improve the health of soil: “regenerative.”

How is soil health improved?

Regenerative agriculture “aims to capture carbon in soil and aboveground biomass” in a variety of ways, including:

• Reducing or eliminating tilling (breaking up the ground with plows and discs).
• Planting grasses and legumes to enrich the soil after harvest.
• Integrating animals – and animal waste – into farming.
• Planting perennial crops.

Who supports regenerative farming?

• As NPR reported, “farmers are now hearing about the virtues of healthy soil from some of the biggest, most powerful names in American agriculture.”
• These include companies like Monsanto, General Mills, and Walmart and environmental organizations like the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Nature Conservancy.

What would the “regenerative” label do?

• “Proponents of such a label say it could encourage farmers to join the movement, paying them to help the soil,” NPR explained. “On the supermarket shelf, it might take its place beside packages labeled as organic, non-GMO, or Fair Trade.”
• Matthew Dillon, director of agriculture for Clif Bar & Company, said the labels may be "good for marketers, but they may not necessarily be good for consumers or for farmers if we're not all clear what the terms mean.”

What do you think?

Would you be encouraged to buy produce labeled “regenerative”? Do you think it will encourage farmers to join the movement? Or do we first need clarification on what the term signifies? Is this something you’d like to see addressed in the upcoming Farm Bill? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

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• Should Organic Chickens Have Outdoor Access?

(Photo Credit: Steve Debenport / iStock)