Today we are comparing regenerative farming to other aspects of farming that impact our food and health. I am not going to rehash Regenerative Farming – you can read the last blog for that information. This blog will cover Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, and Biodynamic Farming. Just the basics, certifications to look for, and how they all differ.
Now let’s see if I can do this in less words than the last blog. 😅
Quick Overview of Farming Types
| Regenerative | Biodynamic | Organic | Sustainable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is certification Required? | No (there is 3rd party certifications) | No (there is 3rd party certifications) | Yes | No (there is 3rd party certifications) |
| Goal | Focuses on natural ways to replenish the soil | Farming is a living organism | Limit use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides | Business integrality, Sustainable farming practices, and ethical stewardship. |
| Chemical-Free | Often, but not-required | Yes | Yes | Not Necessarily |
| Focuses on Soil Health | Central | Yes | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Actively Restores Ecosystem | Central | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Considers the Lunar Cycle | No | Yes | No | No |
| Resources | Noble Research Institute , my last blog | Demeter, Biodynamics Association | USDA, National Organic Standards | USDA, The Goods, SCS Global, |
🌱 Organic Farming — The chemical-free baseline. Organic avoids synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and GMOs. It focuses on what you don’t use. Natural inputs are allowed, and the goal is clean food, but it doesn’t necessarily prioritize soil health or ecosystem restoration beyond the minimum standards. I would call this the base level for people who are trying to eat “clean”.
🔄 Regenerative Farming — The soil-first healer. Regenerative is all about rebuilding and improving the soil and ecosystem. Where organic simply avoids harm, regenerative actively tries to reverse damage — sequestering carbon in soil, increasing biodiversity, restoring water cycles. It’s outcome-driven rather than rules-driven.
⚖️ Sustainable Farming — The long-term pragmatist. Sustainable means farming in a way that can continue indefinitely without depleting resources. It’s the broadest umbrella — it can include organic, regenerative, or even some conventional practices, as long as the operation stays economically and environmentally viable over the long haul. This why it is harder to find true sustainable certifications. There are many aspects that need to be considered. Lean into B-Corp and SCS Global certifications if you looking at the full picture.
🌙 Biodynamic Farming — The holistic mystic. Biodynamic includes everything organic does, plus specific herbal/compost preparations, planting aligned with cosmic rhythms, and a philosophical commitment to the farm as a closed, self-sustaining system. It’s the most prescriptive and spiritually inflected of the bunch. While reading over, and seeing some of the images on the Biodynamic Association pages, I see this as close to traditional farming as we can get. One image brought to mind is of the Amish way of tending to the land.
Regenerative Farming:
See my “What is Regenerative Farming?” blog for full details. The synopsis is this: regenerative farming is based in rebuilding the soil biome while working in harmony with world around it.
Comparing Regenerative to Organic:
Organic is basically a marketing term with legal requirements. The goal for “organic” producers is to limit the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. But other considerations like, soil quality, processing of the product, ingredients added to the product, or even the packaging are not consider as part of the requirements.
Legal Requirements
Comparing Regenerative to Sustainable
Sustainable farming practices are not only about the soil environment, but the ethics of farming practices. From biodiversity to water conservation, and farm worker protections to being climate neutral. The Untied States does not have a certification requirement to claim sustainability. They do have a legal definition for “sustainable agriculture”.
From the USDA website:
The term ”sustainable agriculture” (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103) means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:
Satisfy human food and fiber needs.
Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends.
Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls.
Sustain the economic viability of farm operations.
Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
Without a certification, anyone can claim to be sustainable. It’s not uncommon for companies to “greenwash”, claim they are good for the environment to get your sale but in practice not fulfill their obligations to the claim. Below is a sample of companies that provide 3rd party certification for Sustainability. Certified B Corporation is one of my favorites to follow.
A Sample Of 3rd Party Certificate Options
Comparing Regenerative to Biodynamics
Biodynamic farming treats a farm like a living organism — soil, plants, animals, and people are all interconnected parts of one self-sustaining whole. It goes beyond just avoiding synthetic chemicals; it emphasizes working with natural rhythms (like lunar cycles) and using special herbal preparations to enrich the soil and compost. Think of it as “organic plus spirituality and astrology.”
Final Thoughts on Comparing Regenerative to Others
At the end of the day, think of it as a spectrum: organic sets the floor (no bad stuff), sustainable keeps things viable, regenerative actively heals, and biodynamic wraps it all in a worldview that sees the farm as a living, spiritual entity.
After writing this blog, here’s what I can tell you. It is a buyer beware world. MANY companies claim “clean”, “ethical”, “sustainable”, “regenerative”, and so on, but one look at their product label tells you different story.
If you truly want to buy something based on a claim of being better, be sure to buy a product with a 3rd Party stamp of approval. Determine what standard is most important to you, and look for that certification on the products. For example, after comparing regenerative practices to others, I am more inclined to look for the B Corp Certification and Demeter Certification.
Company
Book
The Hidden Consumer
Uncovering the power of health-conscious buyers
Want to learn more about the Hidden Consumer? Pick up Amy’s book to read about her journey and discovery of Hidden Consumers.
We also offer programs around food education and other downloadable items.
Available wherever you buy books!
Purchase on Amazon