CANADA – Leading organic food brand Nature’s Path has recently unveiled a new Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) flavoured oatmeal line, marking a significant step in sustainable agriculture.
This launch, which took place on September 24, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia, aims to provide consumers with healthy breakfast options while promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.
Nature’s Path is collaborating with Canadian Organic Growers (COG) to enhance the supply of regenerative organic oats.
The initiative, known as the Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program, allocates US$100,000 annually to support organic farmers in achieving ROC status.
“This partnership gives us an opportunity to measure the carbon impacts of regenerative organic farming practices while supporting farmers who are on the front line of helping address climate change,” said Jyoti Stephens, Vice President of Mission and Strategy at Nature’s Path.
The company’s commitment to sustainability is not new; it was founded in 1985 by Arran and Ratana Stephens to “leave the earth better than we found it.”
The introduction of ROC standards builds upon traditional organic farming by incorporating additional requirements for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.
These practices are crucial for combating climate change as they enhance soil quality and increase its capacity to sequester carbon.
Four organic farms in Saskatchewan, including the renowned 5,000-acre Legend Organic Farm—one of the first to earn ROC certification—will participate in the ROO program.
Stuart McMillan, manager of Legend Farm, expressed optimism about the initiative: “This pilot will provide opportunities for future farmers to get engaged with the program.”
The collaboration aims to increase the availability of ROC oats and create an open-source manual for farmers interested in adopting regenerative practices.
Nature’s Path’s new oatmeal products will feature flavors like Berries & Cream and will be available nationwide.
“We have a few exciting innovations in the works,” Jyoti noted, hinting at future products that may include ingredients such as sugar from Brazil’s Natíve Green Cane Project and possibly chocolate.
This expansion aligns with growing consumer interest in sustainable food sources.
Despite the increasing awareness of regenerative agriculture, many consumers remain unfamiliar with ROC standards.
A survey conducted by Nature’s Path revealed minimal awareness before their first ROC product launch in 2020.
However, Jyoti believes that consumer consciousness is evolving: “I think people are certainly becoming more aware about the connection between climate and food.”
The ROO program aims to improve water and air quality while enhancing biodiversity and resilience against floods and droughts.
As Nature’s Path continues to innovate within this framework, they are poised to lead the charge toward a more sustainable agricultural model.
“Time will tell if ROC certification will become a big part of our products going forward,” Jyoti concluded.
“But it’s something that we want to lean into because we feel it’s the right thing to do.”
Through this initiative, Nature’s Path reinforces its commitment to organic farming and takes significant steps toward addressing climate change and promoting sustainable agriculture practices across North America.
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