Regenerative Programme
UEBT regenerative programme engages companies that wish to promote regenerative practices and contribute to the UEBT vision of a world in which people and biodiversity thrive.
Regenerative practices
Regenerative is about measuring the impact of practices on regenerating nature, considering this impact in terms of local conditions, and then adjusting practices as needed to achieve regenerative production systems.
UEBT has adopted a definition* of ‘Regenerative practices’ as ways in which cultivation and wild collection activities contribute to the natural processes that take place in an ecosystem, such as carbon capture, climate regulation, water purification, and providing livelihoods.
*This definition is based on the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
History
Since 2019, UEBT has been promoting Biodiversity Action Plans that include regenerative impact indicators to monitor progress toward biodiversity regeneration and restoration. Due to this experience, companies had approached UEBT as a credible partner that could engage with them and co-develop their journey of promoting regenerative practices. UEBT decided to test the feasibility of developing an impact-based regenerative programme. The programme was co-developed in 2021 with members and partners and subsequently pilot tested in several countries and supply chains in 2022 and 2023. The regenerative programme follows 18 months of pilot testing and improvements made based on early learning.
Objectives
The UEBT regenerative programme aims to:
drive scientifically-grounded positive impact on people and biodiversity
engage companies to invest in positive actions
contribute to the UEBT vision of a world in which people and biodiversity thrive
UEBT’s definition of regenerative is based on the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
The regenerative programme aligns with a wide variety of frameworks at global or regional levels. These include the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration that aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. These also include targets in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework that call for agroecology, biodiversity friendly practices, and climate resilience. Regenerative practices in the UEBT regenerative programme also align with the potential new EU Nature Restoration Law, among other rising regulations or initiatives that focus on aspects of conserving and restoring biodiversity and maintaining nature’s contributions to people.
Towards Biodiversity Conservation & Regeneration
… the journey from mitigation to positive impact
How to engage
Companies can contact UEBT to test the regenerative approach. As regenerative practices are promoted, externally validated claims are possible.
Contact us at impact@uebt.org to learn more about the UEBT regenerative programme and to discuss whether regenerative practices might be possible for your ingredient being sourced.
What standard will be used
The UEBT regenerative programme is based on the UEBT standard that has a robust set of biodiversity requirements as well as human rights and social requirements. This is complemented by a regenerative module add-on. This add-on consists of regenerative impact indicators that are set as part of a Biodiversity Action Plan and for which the impact is assessed. The add-on also contains a strengthened requirement for the indicator in the UEBT standard on living income for local producers.
UEBT intends to ensure the programme works with companies to set targets considering the specific contexts of the surrounding ecosystem and the type of farming or wild collection in place. In farming, this is based on agroecology and promotes a naturally balanced farming system of diverse crops, natural infrastructures, functional biodiversity, restored soil, pure water, and no use of synthetic agrochemicals. In wild collection, this is focused on the regeneration rate of the collected species, species diversity in natural habitats, support for the surrounding ecosystem, and more.
Learn more about regenerative practices by visiting our dedicated page: here.
Regenerative programme information sheet
UEBT’s regenerative programme engages companies that wish to promote regenerative practices and contribute to the UEBT vision of a world in which all people and biodiversity thrive.
Biodiversity Action Plans Manual
A Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) provides guidance in designing and implementing concrete practices on sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity when growing and sourcing natural raw materials.