Whole Foods Market has expanded the number of regenerative agriculture certifications it accepts, recently adding the Soil Climate Initiative (SCI) to its approved list. The move reflects growing industry consensus that scaling regenerative agriculture will require multiple paths for certification and not a single, uniform standard.
SCI, part of the broader Soil Climate Alliance, was originally created to help farmers transition from conventional practices by providing agronomic guidance, soil testing, and technical support.
“[SCI] started as a transition program to help farmers identify what they need and provide support and services to start the journey wherever they were,” said Jeff Bos, Chief Growth and Impact Officer at SCI.
While SCI prepares farms for certification, formal verification is conducted by independent third party SCS Global Services. The separation avoids greenwashing and maintains credibility. “We’re not the ones evaluating that work and saying they are certified,” Bos added.
Whole Foods Market evaluates regenerative agriculture through five soil health principles, including continuous ground cover and biodiversity, and now recognizes several certification programs such as Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC). Company leaders say offering multiple pathways is key to expanding adoption across diverse growing regions and production systems.
“We’re big supporters of the organic industry, but there’s more than one way to meet farmers where they are and encourage them to progress over time,” said Ann Marie Hourigan, Executive Leader for Quality Standards at Whole Foods Market.
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