From Soil to Shelf: Regenerative Agriculture Hits the Grocery Aisle

First Two Food Brands Achieve Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC — February 28, 2024 — A groundbreaking label is about to arrive in grocery stores, and with it an inspiring glimpse at a thriving, sustainable future for our food system. PACHA and Roots Chips will be the first two companies to carry the Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified label and will be available in stores nationwide. Over the next 12 months, a growing selection of Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified products are also slated to hit grocery shelves.

Adam Kotin, Managing Director of the Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI), said: “The Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified label represents a holistic, science-based commitment to farming systems that seek to restore the land that feeds us.”

PACHA, an organic food company based in Vista, California, uses sprouted buckwheat and sea salt with organic herbs and spices to make their vegan, gluten-free breads. PACHA sources its buckwheat from verified regenerative farms for all four of their hearty Sourdough Bread products including: Buckwheat Loaf, Garlic Rye, Cheesy Herb, and Buckwheat Buns. 

Maddie Hamann, Director of Marketing and Co-Founder of PACHA, said: “PACHA is dedicated to nourishing the health of people AND our planet through regeneratively grown foods. We are so grateful for the farmers making changes to provide our buckwheat, and for SCI's work that is making our mission a reality!”  

Roots Chips, a family-run farm-to-bag Idaho potato chip company based in Aberdeen, Idaho, uses simple and natural ingredients for its farm-fresh products. Roots Chips sources its potatoes from their very own SCI Verified regenerative farms for all five of their savory kettle potato chip flavors including: Sea Salt, Barbecue, Purple Sea Salt, Jalapeño, Sea Salt and Vinegar. 

Ladd Wahlen, Co-Founder of Roots Chips and fourth-generation potato farmer, said: “The SCI team has developed an amazing regenerative framework for both farmers and brands that we are thrilled to be a part of. We look forward to this tremendous opportunity to work side by side in this initiative!”  

The Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI), a project of the non-profit Green America, is excited to announce the first products to successfully complete the independent verification process. These specific products are made using ingredients from farms practicing regenerative agriculture – a farming approach that prioritizes healthy, living soil to drive powerful outcomes in carbon drawdown, biodiversity, climate resiliency, and farm prosperity. To earn verification, farms track soil health outcomes, use practices that protect and nourish the soil, and commit to continuous improvement over the long-term. An independent third-party verifier confirms that on-farm activities and monitoring meet the requirements of the program. 

Farmers worldwide are on the frontlines of climate change, as they face increasingly erratic weather patterns and shifting temperatures. At the same time, we face stunning losses of the fertile topsoil that sustains food production. 

Restoring soil health and its natural ability to draw down atmospheric carbon is a critical step to addressing these climate and soil crises. SCI’s science-based commitment and verification program gives food producers and manufacturers the ability to measure soil health improvements and works to empower the entire food supply chain to scale the transition of acres under regenerative agriculture management. 

SCI’s partner program, the Nutrient Density Alliance, will soon launch a report this March focusing on recommendations for food and agriculture brands to make verifiable nutrient density claims related to their use of regenerative agriculture practices.

ABOUT

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) is a nonprofit, farmer-first regenerative agriculture transition program with options for third-party verification. SCI empowers farmers, suppliers, food and fashion brands, investors, and landowners to scale regenerative agriculture management and maximize soil health outcomes, biodiversity, carbon storage, water quality, climate resiliency and farm economics. www.soilclimateinitiative.org   

Green America, founded in 1982, is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Green America provides economic strategies and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s most pressing social and environmental problems. www.greenamerica.org 

SCS Global Services (SCS) is a global leader in third-party certification, auditing, verification and standards development for over 40 years.  Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, food and agriculture, green building, product manufacturing, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. www.scsglobalservices.com 
 

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin, (703) 276-3255 or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com