ROC is a certification standard based on a fundamental principle: for a farm or a product to be included in the scheme, there must first be an existing valid organic certification as a baseline, and then compliance with the additional ROC requirements is assessed.
The standard is built on three core pillars:
- Soil Health & Land Management
- Animal Welfare
- Farmer & Worker Fairness
The ROC certification is intended for organizations involved in the production and management of regenerative organic agriculture products, such as:
- crop producers,
- livestock farms and ranches,
- producer groups and cooperatives,
- companies that manage or trade certified raw materials,
- processing companies and brands wishing to use the ROC label on their products.
ROC is applied to categories such as food, textiles/fibers, and personal care ingredients, provided that the relevant requirements of the scheme are met.
ROC is not limited to a general declaration of regenerative agriculture, it sets specific requirements across its three pillars.
Soil Health & Land Management
The standard emphasizes practices that enhance soil fertility, limit degradation, and encourage a more resilient agroecosystem.
Animal Welfare
Where animals are involved, ROC requires a high level of treatment and care that goes beyond basic organic livestock compliance.
Farmer & Worker Fairness
The standard incorporates social requirements related to working conditions, fair treatment, and transparency in relationships throughout the production chain.
Environmental Benefits
- Improvement of soil health
- Enhancement of organic matter and fertility
- Promotion of practices that support biodiversity
- Support for agronomic practices with a more positive ecosystem footprint
Social Benefits
- Emphasis on fair treatment of farmers and workers
- Criteria for social responsibility and labor fairness
- Strengthening transparency and responsible operations throughout the value chain
Commercial Benefits
- Access to markets and partnerships with higher sustainability requirements
- Recognizable international certification for regenerative organic products
- Added value for products and brands seeking to substantiate more rigorous sustainability commitments
A key feature of ROC is that it provides for three certification levels:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
This tiered structure allows producers and businesses to progress gradually, recognizing different levels of implementation of regenerative practices and encouraging continuous improvement.
