IFOAM Organics Europe warned this week that misleading use of ‘regenerative’ agriculture in corporate branding and lobbying activity risks diverting attention away from the “genuinely transformative and publicly accountable food system solutions” already being implemented across Europe.
In joint statement also signed by farmers’ organisations, environmental NGOs and civil society actors, the organic advocacy group warn that “what is called ‘regenerative’ can include highly degenerative practices masked by a few cosmetic measures.” The signatories also say that millions of farmers and territorial food actors are already building resilient food systems rooted in agroecological and organic principles, delivering concrete environmental and social benefits through credible, transparent and accountable approaches.
“Organic farming has for decades delivered on the principles now broadly also associated with the regeneration of our soils and agro-ecosystem, through a legally defined, holistic and publicly verified framework. The concern lies with undefined narratives that allow input-intensive models, continued reliance on synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, or weak environmental practices to be marketed as sustainability, and not with farmers who are genuinely improving soil health, biodiversity and resilience. Such narratives risk undermining both farmers’ efforts and consumer trust,” said Jan Plagge, president of IFOAM Organics Europe.
“The issue is not whether farmers use the word regenerative, but whether EU policy and markets reward real transformation or vague claims. Public support, sustainability reporting and corporate sourcing strategies must be based on clear criteria, public accountability and verifiable benefits for ecosystems. Organic and agroecological systems already offer credible pathways for this transition; they should not be weakened by undefined concepts that allow business-as-usual practices to be rebranded as sustainability,” said Eduardo Cuoco, director of IFOAM Organics Europe.
The signatories call on EU policymakers and market actors to support coherent transition pathways, while strengthening environmental standards and consumer trust. “Europe must ensure that actions speak louder than words and that future transitions remain credible, transparent, grounded in the public interest, and anchored in verifiable and publicly governed approaches”, the statement concludes.
Image: Courtesy, Being Organic in the EU
