Table Of Contents
- A structured pathway grounded in regenerative principles
- Turn regenerative goals into verified progress
- Choose the RGN certification route that fits your operation
- Certification Levels
- Certification levels
- Benefits of Regenerative Farming Standard (RGN) with FoodChain ID
- Connect RGN with broader sustainability assurance
- FAQ
- Useful Links
- Request a consultation
A structured pathway grounded in regenerative principles
Built around soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
4
progressive certification levels
3
certification routes
How certification works
Turn regenerative goals into verified progress
Step 1
Define your certification scope
Align farms, producer groups, products, and claims to the right certification route
Step 2
Assess current practices
Establish a clear baseline against RGN principles, evidence, and outcome requirements
Step 3
Close evidence and practice gaps
Strengthen records and implementation before the independent certification assessment
Step 4
Complete certification assessment
Demonstrate conformity through an independent review of practices, evidence, and controls
Step 5
Progress through certification levels
Use the tiered pathway to show improvement and maintain confidence over time
Choose the RGN certification route that fits your operation
Individual Producer
Certification for a single farm or producer seeking independent recognition of regenerative farming practices and progress. The assessment reviews implementation, supporting evidence, and alignment with the RGN Standard. The tiered model provides a practical pathway from early transition through more advanced performance.
Details of Individual Producer
Best suited to individual farms and producers. Scope, evidence, assessment timing, and certification level are confirmed before the audit. Certified operations may use the approved RGN certification mark in line with applicable mark-use rules.
Producer Group
Certification for cooperatives, grower groups, and supply programs that need a consistent approach across multiple farms. Group certification supports shared requirements, internal controls, and coordinated evidence while allowing progress to be assessed across participating producers.
Details of Producer Group
Best suited to cooperatives, contract-growing programs, and supplier networks. The group must maintain defined governance, participant records, internal controls, and evidence that supports consistent implementation across the certification scope.
Chain of Custody
Certification that supports traceability of RGN-certified material through the supply chain. It helps businesses maintain the connection between certified production and products or claims presented to customers and the market.
Details of Chain of Custody
Best suited to processors, handlers, manufacturers, and other supply-chain organizations. Requirements may include material identification, segregation or controlled accounting, transaction records, and approved claim or mark use.
Certification Levels
A progressive model recognizes where an operation is today and provides a route for continued improvement. Certification levels help producers demonstrate advancement without requiring every operation to begin at the highest level.
Details of Certification Levels
Under Conversion: early transition toward regenerative farming. Basic: foundational practices are implemented. Advanced: regenerative methods and monitoring are more deeply integrated. Expert: mature, comprehensive, and outcome-driven performance.
The Regenerative Farming Standard is grounded in three connected principles: soil health and water stewardship, biodiversity, and climate and nutrient balance. Together, they help farms restore soil function, strengthen resilience, protect natural resources, support ecological balance, and progress toward lower-impact, more productive land management.
Details of Principles & Practices
Examples of recognised practices may include cover cropping, crop rotation, intercropping or polyculture, green manure, ecological and biodiversity areas, flowers and honey crops, compost and organic amendments, and no-till or minimum-tillage approaches. Applicable practices depend on the farm, crop, geography, certification scope, and current RGN requirements. The assessment considers how practices are implemented, evidenced, and connected to regenerative outcomes.
Certification levels
The Regenerative Farming Standard (RGN) offers a progressive certification path designed to recognize and support continuous improvement in regenerative agriculture. Producers are awarded one of three certification levels based on the maturity and integration of regenerative practices on their operations. The levels of compliance include:
Under Conversion Status
For operations beginning their transition to regenerative agriculture that have not yet met baseline certification thresholds.
1st Level / Basic
Recognizes foundational implementation of regenerative practices aligned with the RGN standard.
2nd Level / Advanced
Reflects deeper integration of regenerative methods and monitoring across farm operations.
3rd Level / Expert
The highest level, awarded to farms demonstrating mature, comprehensive, and outcome-driven regenerative performance.
Certification level is assessed through a mix of on-farm audits and outcome tracking. The structure encourages farms to progress over time, aligning with the regenerative principle of continual improvement.
How We Help
Benefits of Regenerative Farming Standard (RGN) with FoodChain ID
Outcome-based regenerative farming framework
Shows progress through defined evidence and outcomes
Unclear definitions of regenerative farming
Four progressive certification levels
Creates a practical route for continuous improvement
All-or-nothing certification expectations
Individual, group, and chain of custody routes
Fits different farm and supply-chain structures
One certification model does not fit every operation
Globally applicable certification requirements
Supports greater consistency across regions and suppliers
Variable expectations across sourcing markets
Independent assessment and certification
Strengthens confidence in evidence and external claims
Claims that are difficult to substantiate
Approved RGN certification mark
Makes certified progress visible to the market
Limited recognition of verified farm progress
Extend Your Capabilities
Connect RGN with broader sustainability assurance
Extend traceability, claim confidence, and program oversight with complementary certification and verification services.
Get Support from Our Experts
Laura Misani
Head of ESG Department, Bioagricert (A Foodchain ID Company)
Life Cycle Assessment | Carbon Footprint | Regenerative Agriculture
Marialena Kanellopoulou
Head of Sustainability & System Certification, Cosmocert SA (A Foodchain ID Compnay)
Certification | Verification | Regenerative Agriculture Certification
Reinaldo Rodrigues
Certification Manager, Brazil
Crop Sustainability | Environnment Certification | Carbon Credit Verification
Willima Filho, PhD
Corporate Sustainability Manager
Animal Scientist | Regenerative Grazing Systems | Corporate ESG Targets
FAQ
The Regenerative Farming Standard (RGN) is a globally applicable certification program that recognizes farming practices designed to improve soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. It provides an independent framework for producers and supply chain partners seeking to demonstrate measurable progress toward regenerative agriculture. Organizations exploring broader environmental programs can also learn about FoodChain ID sustainability certification services.
Yes. The Regenerative Farming Standard is designed for both conventional and organic farming systems. Producers are assessed on regenerative practices and continuous improvement rather than requiring immediate conversion to organic production, allowing farms to progress through different certification levels.
Organic certification focuses on compliance with organic production requirements, while the Regenerative Farming Standard evaluates farming practices that restore soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem function. Depending on their business goals, some organizations may choose to combine regenerative practices with USDA Organic certification or other organic certification programs.
Yes. The standard includes chain of custody requirements that help maintain the integrity of certified products throughout the supply chain. Organizations looking to strengthen sustainability verification across sourcing programs may also benefit from Sustainability Verification.
The Regenerative Farming Standard can be applied by individual producers, producer groups, processors and commercial organizations involved in agricultural supply chains. It supports businesses seeking credible third-party verification of regenerative farming practices across food, fiber and other agricultural products.
Regenerative agriculture certification provides independent verification that farming operations are implementing practices to improve soil health, biodiversity and long-term environmental resilience. As food companies strengthen sustainability commitments, third-party certification helps build transparency and confidence throughout the supply chain. Organizations can also explore additional food certifications and claims to support their sustainability strategies.
RGN can provide a structured foundation for farms pursuing carbon-market, insetting, or climate-finance programmes, but certification alone does not create carbon credits or guarantee eligibility or funding. Separate project design, measurement, validation, and verification requirements may apply. FoodChain ID can connect RGN certification with greenhouse gas validation and verification services where appropriate.
Useful Links
Use this box for external resources that support the RGN topic and help visitors explore related standards, guidance, and background material.
