Regenerative, Organic and non-organic

What is regenerative? 

If you ask us, it starts with Organic. The Organic Certification is the baseline, then it includes three additional "pillars" of farming in one certification.

Pillars: 

Soil Health - Cover crops restore nutrients, reduce weeds, and prevent erosion. We use water (instead of chemical herbicides!) to control weeds.

Animal Welfare - habitat for 200+ species, egg rescue. We return some of our water to rivers and streams, where zooplankton from the fields nourish salmon populations.

Social Fairness - safe working conditions, and supporting small family farms. Offer full time work over seasoning farming positions. 

More info here - https://www.lundberg.com/pages/regenerative-organic-rice

What is the difference between your Regenerative Organic, Organic and Non-Organic rice?

Short answer: 

Organic is farmed according to National Organic Program standards (where they give us a list of what can and can't be done or used on the farm. 

Regenerative Organic Certified is Organic + includes soil health, animal welfare and social fairness. 

Non-Organic (aka Sustainable) is grown responsibly (no harmful chemicals like glyphosate) but some element of farming is done or used that isn't on the Organic list, so the farm is not certified Organic. 

More Info:

Organic and Regenerative Organic:

• Weed Management:
  • Manage weeds naturally, with water. This is featured in this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAhvL_3LFM
• Pest Management:
  • CO2 (food grade) - compliant with our Organic Certification. CO2 is a non-invasive fumigant. It displaces oxygen in an enclosed area.
• Fertilizer:
  • Chicken Litter
• Non GMO
• Crop Rotation
• Cover Crops
• Returning straw to soil after harvest
• Habitat for hundreds of species
• Egg Salvage
• Handled as Organic in the manufacturing process.

Sustainable:

• Everything on the Organic list - it is grown and treated as Organically as possible.
  • Above conventional rice growing standards.
• Weed Management:
  • Same as Organic
  • Can use other herbicides on rare occasions (not non-selective, broad spectrum herbicides).
• Pest Management:
  • Same as Organic
  • Can use other pesticides on rare occasions, but never PAN Bad Actors like glyphosate or Round Up.
• Fertilizer:
  • Same as Organic

In Depth: 

All of our Regenerative Organic Certified, Organic certified and Sustainable (AKA non-organic and formerly Eco-Farmed) Rice is grown with a concern for the environment. We treat the soil, air, and water as important resources, respecting the delicate balances of nature. For the products that are Sustainable (and not labeled Organic), we have created a blend of organic practices and integrated pest management techniques to create our own growing system that is above and beyond conventional rice production practices while still providing an important option for price-conscious consumers.

The main difference between Regenerative Organic Certified, Organic and Sustainable is that in farming the Sustainable, and non-organic type, we are allowed to use herbicides and pesticides if needed, however each decision is based on specific events. All PAN (Pesticide Action Network) bad actors are prohibited on our non-organic rice. Bad actors have been identified by the World Health Organization and include pesticides with high acute toxicity, known groundwater contaminants, reproductive or developmental toxicants, and probable carcinogens, this includes glyphosate. We also farm according to USDA National Organic Program standards, which does not allow the use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Any herbicide or pesticide will be applied to non-organic rice after great deliberation per event, and all alternatives have been exhausted.

What is regenerative agriculture?

If you ask us, it starts with ORGANIC.

Regenerative Organic Certified® uses the USDA Certified Organic standard as a baseline and adds important criteria and benchmarks that incorporate the three major pillars of regenerative organic agriculture into one certification.

3 pillars: 

Soil Health - it requires farmers to go above and beyond by practicing agricultural techniques that ensure healthy soil

Animal Welfare - it requires the ethical and humane treatment of animals

Social Fairness - it requires fairness for farmers & workers.

More info here - https://www.lundberg.com/pages/regenerative-organic-rice

How does Lundberg represent the 3 pillars of regenerative agriculture?  

Soil Health

We treat the soil like a living thing by minimizing soil disturbance, using water (instead of herbicides) to manage weeds, and feeding the soil a diverse diet that includes cover crops, which can help sequester carbon, restore nutrients to the soil, reduce weeds, and prevent erosion. This results in an estimated ~100,000 lbs. of organic matter per acre.

Animal Welfare

Rice fields replicate California’s once-abundant wetlands and provide habitat for 200+ species. Each winter, we flood a portion of our fields to provide habitat and nutrition for wintering waterfowl. Our cover crops also provide nesting habitat for ducks. So, when we find duck nests in our fields, we strap on our waders and hand carry the eggs to safety. Over the years, we’ve rescued an estimated 30,000 ducklings!

Social Fairness

As farmers ourselves, we know firsthand how much heart and hard work go into growing good food. We’re committed to not only paying our team members fairly but also offering a comprehensive benefits package. Whenever possible, we hire members of our farm team full-time (as opposed to working with labor contractors) so they can receive these benefits year-round, even if they only work nine months out of the year.

What's the difference between Organic and Regenerative Organic when it comes to farming? 

According to Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA):  “Regenerative Organic Certified® uses the USDA Certified Organic standard as a baseline” and is also based on the three pillars (soil health, animal welfare and social fairness). According to ROA, it is the highest standard in Organic agriculture. 

What are the benefits of regenerative agriculture? 

According to Regenerative Organic Alliance “The goals of Regenerative Organic Certified® are to promote healthy agriculture practices in an all-encompassing certification that:

• Increases soil organic matter over time and sequesters atmospheric carbon in soil,
• Ensures the ethical and humane treatment of animals and emphasizes pasture-based systems.
• Provides fair conditions for all farmers, ranchers, and workers”

What is launching? 

Over the next few years many of our Organic products will become Regenerative Organic Certified®.

With this change we are also introducing an update package!

How is this product different from your Organic products?

Our new Regenerative Organic Certified® products just have an extra certification from Regenerative Organic Alliance. Our farming practices? They’re the same.

For decades, we've been growing rice in support of our generations-old founding principle to leave the land better than we found it. Under this principle, we've already been going above and beyond our Organic Certification and we've been farming regeneratively organic for years. 

Is there less arsenic in the Regenerative Organic rice? 

The regenerative organic farming practices doesn't mean there is less arsenic in the soil and in the rice. These farming practices mean we have a more biodiverse soil (we use cover crops, compost, etc), but the maximum level of arsenic that can be in the rice is still the same standard.