Organic for the Planet

Earth Month comes around every year, and each time, it brings a mix of celebration, curiosity and hope. Curiosity about what the future might hold—and hope inspired by the incredible work that individuals and brands are propelling forward.

At Nature’s Path, we have a guiding purpose of leaving the Earth better than we found it.

As the first USDA-certified organic cereals on the market (it all started in the 1980s) and largest independent organic breakfast and snack food company in North America, our company and family founders have worked tirelessly to keep organic at the forefront of our mission. In 2024 we sourced from & supported approximately 93,000 acres of organic farmland and its farmers, using innovative climate-friendly practices to protect people and the planet. 

We know that there are many conceptions and misconceptions about what organic really means, and this Earth Month we're happy to set the record straight.

What Is Organic?

At its core, organic refers to the way agricultural products, including the food we eat & fibers we wear, are grown and processed. Organic regulations place strict limits and prohibitions on the use of toxic and persistent pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, and irradiation. Instead, organic farmers work with nature—using crop

diversity, compost, pollinator habitat, and time‑tested ecological practices to grow food in a way that keeps toxins out of our bodies and our environment.

Organic is more than simply avoiding chemicals–it's about building healthy soil for the future. Organic farming builds topsoil, which captures carbon. Organic farming maximises carbon fixation while minimizing carbon loss through organic farming techniques like composting & cover cropping, that ultimately increase the living organic matter in our soil.

A 40-year study at the US Rodale Institute proved that if organic farming practices were adopted globally, we could expect to save 2 billion tons of carbon a year — that’s the equivalent of 12% of the total annual GHG emissions, worldwide and this goes a LONG way to combatting climate change and global warming. (OFRF)

One of the reasons organic has a significantly lower carbon footprint is because fossil fuel-based fertilizers and most synthetic pesticides are not permitted in organic farming. For example, non-organic strawberries are often sprayed with pesticides to help them grow more easily, and those same pesticides can also be injected into the soil, releasing even more nitrous oxide (N₂O)—the most harmful greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. These same chemicals are prohibited in organic food production. (NRDC)

And it's not just about emissions. Organic farming and optimized low-input farming systems help tackle water quality and access issues by preventing soil erosion and runoff, while reducing exposure to toxic pesticides in communities. 

And like most food, we couldn’t do it without the help of our pollinators and beneficial insects…

Did you know organic farms are safe havens for pollinators like bees and butterflies? On average, organic farming increases species richness by about 30% by increasing life-sustaining habitat and food sources in agricultural landscapes while reducing the use of toxic chemicals.(BES Journals)

Plus, organic farms build rich, living soils filled with beneficial microbes and other soil organisms that serve as the engine of healthy food systems. This thriving soil life strengthens the land—and in turn, our food supply—helping farms stay resilient amid the increasingly extreme weather driven by climate change.

Choosing Organic

Here’s where you come in. Choosing to buy organic is a simple yet effective way to support a healthier planet and healthier for you.  When you choose organic, you’re helping reduce the use of toxic pesticides that can make their way into our food, soil, and bodies.

 A 2020 peer-reviewed study on organic diet intervention found that average levels of the herbicide glyphosate—or Round Up—a common household gardening product which you may have heard of, dropped 70% in just one week for people on an organic diet. (FOE)

Here's what to look for at the grocery store

 

Keep an eye out for organic seals!

Organic is unique among all the eco-labels out there – it is the only federally defined term backed by the USDA in the US and CFIA in Canada, with strict regulations that control how organic products are grown, raised and processed from seed to fork.

Every processor and part of the organic processing chain is certified and goes through third party inspection at least once a year to ensure compliance. Organic laws require best practices to maintain healthy fertile soil with compost, cover crops and crop rotation; use integrated pest management; avoid GMOs (genetically modified organisms), take better care of animals through organic feed and pasture access; and use climate friendly practices.

You've probably seen the organic seals on foods on grocery shelves before–these are your cue that what you're choosing fulfills the organic promise!

Regenerative Organic Certified®

Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) is one of the highest global benchmarks for regenerative agriculture. It starts with USDA Organic as a baseline and centers on three pillars of regenerative organic agriculture:

✓ Soil Health: Cover crops, crop rotation, no synthetic inputs, biodiversity first.

✓ Animal Welfare: Pasture-raised, no CAFOs, proper shelter, freedom and care.

✓ Social Fairness: Fair wages, safe work, capacity building, freedom of association.

At Nature’s Path, we’re proud to offer two Regenerative Organic Certified® options you can feel good about: Berries & Cream Instant Oatmeal and Dark Chocolate & Cocoa Instant Oatmeal.

Small choices, big impact

This Earth Month, your choices have power. Every time you reach for organic, you’re supporting cleaner air, healthier soil, and climate resiliency in the agricultural landscape.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing; small shifts can create meaningful change over time. Start with the foods you love most, look for trusted organic seals to know your foods are subject to rigorous certification & on-the-ground oversight, and feel confident knowing your purchase is part of something bigger.

At Nature’s Path, we remain committed to driving organic forward, because a better way of farming leads to a brighter future for all of us.

Find your organic favorites here.

Learn more about our Always Organic mission here.