What FOE says about “regenerative but not organic” farming
Friends of the Earth (FOE) has pointed out in several articles and reports that there’s a serious problem when “regenerative” is used without organic standards, leading to high pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide use. This is one of the main criticisms FOE levels at how some big agribusinesses adopt the regenerative label without actually changing harmful practices. Let’s break it down:
FOE explains that:
- Many conventional farms are adopting the “regenerative” label without committing to eliminating synthetic agrochemicals.
- Herbicides and pesticides remain common in these systems when they are not certified organic.
- This creates a risk of greenwashing: farms or companies claim to be regenerative for marketing, but continue to use practices that harm soil life, water quality, biodiversity, and human health.
Key points from FOE’s position
- Genuine regenerative agriculture requires minimizing or eliminating synthetic inputs — FOE supports regenerative organic standards (like Regenerative Organic Certification) that forbid most synthetic pesticides.
- “Regenerative” without organic standards allows continued dependence on glyphosate, atrazine, and other synthetic chemicals — contrary to what regenerative farming should mean.
- This undermines the potential of regenerative practices to improve soil health and ecosystems.
- FOE calls on consumers, policymakers, and certifiers to distinguish authentic regenerative systems from greenwashed ones.
Why it matters
This distinction is crucial:
- Many companies highlight cover crops or reduced tillage as regenerative steps, yet maintain or even increase pesticide use because these systems can rely on herbicide-based weed control (e.g., glyphosate before planting cover crops).
- Without strong standards, regenerative farming risks becoming a label exploited for marketing without real ecological benefit.
FOE’s recommendation
- Combine regenerative and organic methods to truly reduce pesticides and restore ecosystem health.
- Develop clear standards and third-party certifications to ensure “regenerative” isn’t used for greenwashing.
Summary: FOE warns that “regenerative, but not organic” systems often use significant pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides — contradicting the ecological promises of regenerative agriculture. They see this as a key threat to the credibility and success of regenerative farming.