ROC Framework Revision

The Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) Framework is at the heart of the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) mission to define the highest standard for agriculture—centering soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. To keep the framework strong and relevant, we are launching the ROC Framework Revision, and we invite you to contribute your perspective.

What is the ROC Framework, and why is it important?

The ROC Framework sets out the requirements for farmers, ranchers, and brands to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified® status. It serves as a common reference point for what regenerative organic agriculture means in practice, guiding certification bodies, operators, and supply chain partners.

The framework is unique in bringing together three critical pillars:

  • Soil Health & Land Management – building resilience, increasing biodiversity, and soil health and land management benefits.
  • Animal Welfare – ensuring the highest standards of humane treatment for farm animals.
  • Social Fairness – supporting the rights, well-being, and livelihoods of farmworkers and farming communities.

By establishing clear requirements and benchmarks across these pillars, the ROC Framework provides credibility, transparency, and consistency for the regenerative organic movement worldwide.

Why the revision?

Since the launch of the ROC Framework, the world of agriculture and sustainability has continued to evolve rapidly. Several key trends make this revision essential:

  • Regulatory drivers: New global and regional rules are changing expectations for agricultural systems and certification.
  • Climate urgency: Extreme weather events are increasing, highlighting the importance of resilient farming practices that can adapt to and mitigate climate change.
  • Market growth: Demand for regenerative organic products has surged, requiring clear guidance to maintain integrity and scalability.
  • Learning from implementation: Insights from certified operators, auditors, certification bodies, and brands provide valuable feedback to strengthen and clarify requirements.

This revision ensures that ROC remains ambitious, practical, and aligned with global sustainability discussions and best practices.

Revision objectives

Through this process, the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) aims to:

  • Update and refine the requirements across the three ROC pillars.
  • Clarify key definitions and strengthen alignment with international best practices.
  • Keep addressing emerging issues such as climate resilience, living wages, biodiversity, and traceability.
  • Ensure accessibility and usability for diverse stakeholders, from smallholder farmers to large-scale operators.

Our consultation process

The ROC Framework Revision is designed to be inclusive and transparent. Stakeholder input is essential to ensure the framework reflects the realities and ambitions of the regenerative organic movement.

  • Consultation opening: October 2025
  • How to participate: The consultation draft and related resources will be available on this page. Stakeholders will be invited to submit feedback through surveys and discussion forums.
  • Who should engage: Farmers, ranchers, certification bodies, brands, NGOs, researchers, policymakers, and anyone committed to advancing regenerative organic agriculture.

Stay involved

Your insights will help shape the next phase of the ROC Framework and ensure it continues to set the gold standard for regenerative organic agriculture.

For more information on the revision process, please contact: standards@regenorganic.org

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