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The Rainforest Alliance has announced the launch of a new regenerative agriculture certification solution, designed to provide farmers and companies with a science-based standard to track their impact on soil health and biodiversity.

Announced yesterday (9 September 2025), the solution is launching with an initial focus on coffee. It aims to help coffee farmers build more resilient livelihoods and support the restoration of ecosystems across tropical landscapes.

From early 2026, certified regenerative products will bear the solution’s distinct seal. This shows consumers that these products come from farms and companies that are committing to regenerative agriculture practices.

Regenerative agriculture aims to reduce farming’s impact on the environment, described by the Alliance as a ‘climate-smart’ and ‘promising’ approach. It can also improve farmers’ livelihoods – recent studies show regenerative practices can improve income by up to 20-30%.

The Rainforest Alliance has integrated these principles into its new Regenerative Agriculture Standard, providing a clear pathway for measuring progress and outcomes across five key impact areas: soil health and fertility, climate resilience, biodiversity, water stewardship and livelihoods.

By effectively implementing these practices, coffee producers can build more productive and resilient farms while unlocking new market opportunities, the Alliance said in a statement announcing the launch.

Independent auditors will periodically visit farms and companies to ensure they are meeting these standards. When they do, they will be awarded certification and permitted to display the regenerative seal on their products.

The announcement comes as extreme weather and environmental degradation continue to disrupt crop yields, supply chain stability and commodity markets. These challenges are impacting the livelihoods of millions of coffee farmers, particularly smallholders who produce over 70% of the world’s coffee.

Santiago Gowland, CEO of The Rainforest Alliance, said: “Markets need to move beyond a ‘do no harm’ mindset to one that repairs and restores. Now is the time to transition to a new model of agriculture – one where every cup of coffee gives back more than it takes from the land and the people who care for it.”

“After years of research and collaboration with farmers and companies, we are proud to introduce a Regenerative Agriculture Certification to help drive this shift.”

Sourcing Rainforest Alliance Certified Regenerative coffee can enable brands to make claims based on credible data, strengthen their ESG performance and meet rising consumer demand for more environmentally friendly products.

The Regenerative Agriculture Standard is already being implemented across coffee farms in Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua. Companies already sourcing from these farms are set to launch their first Rainforest Alliance Certified Regenerative coffee products to market in 2026.