REGENERATIVE GRAZING 101

Regenerative has become a trendy claim among food products. The term regenerative, by definition, is synonymous with net positive. A claim about being on a mission to cultivate net positive environmental impact, or a surplus of ecosystem services, is not an easy thing to achieve. Such a bold claim needs to be supported by outcome-based data and real world results. Origin Provisions takes these claims very seriously and believes that a data-backed journey-based-approach is the only way to achieve this. We believe strongly in the adage of “what gets measured gets managed.” It is about an ongoing commitment to optimizing management at the farm level, not just checking a list of approved practices and assuming outcomes are being achieved. There is a growing cadre of farms around the world committed to this process of ongoing improvement and stewarding the land on which we all depend.

These are the principles that we see critical towards achieving regenerative outcomes:

1.

Proactively Plan Grazing keeping in mind variables such as land health & biodiversity, animal performance, business resilience, and social dynamics.

2.

Utilize an outcome-based land-health monitoring protocol. These monitoring events need to happen at regular intervals and used to optimize management on an ongoing basis.

3.

Maximize photosynthesis by having living plants growing for as much of the year as possible

5.

Integrate grazing animals with cropping whenever possible utilizing permaculture, silovpasture, and agroforestry techniques

6.

Minimize inputs, especially synthetic chemicals, and focus on accelerating natural cycles to create resilience and abundance.

4.

Minimize erosion by keeping the soil covered with decomposing plant litter while also minimizing tillage and other soil disturbances.

Origin Provisions Sourcing Standards

To meet Origin Provision's standards for regenerative labeling, all farmers in a segregated supply shed must measure environmental health, at regular intervals, utilizing a well-recognized scientific protocol. Programs like Savory Institute’s Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) protocol, Regenerative Organic Alliance’s - Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC), and Certified Regenerative by Certified Humane are currently approved by Origin Provisions Standards to fulfill our definition of regenerative.