By Nature’s Path Organic Foods & Riverside Natural Foods

In 2021, as drought conditions devastated crops across Canada, organic farmers faced yet another reminder that they are on the front lines of climate change. Out of that hardship came a powerful idea: What if the organic industry could come together—not in competition, but in collaboration—to strengthen organic supply chains and support the farmers who feed us? This question laid the foundation for the Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program, a farmer-centered initiative designed to build resilience, adaptability, and innovation into the future of regenerative organic agriculture. 

At its heart, the ROO program is about pre-competitive collaboration. Nature’s Path Organic Foods and Riverside Natural Foods, two leading organic brands, recognized that they share a common oat supply and a collective responsibility to nurture it. Instead of competing for limited resources, they adopted a “rising tide lifts all boats” mindset. With on-the-ground leadership from Canadian Organic Growers and supply chain partners like Bay State Milling (in partnership with MGM Seed & Grain) and Grain Millers Canada, the program began by directly engaging with organic oat growers, building a network rooted in shared values, transparency, and long-term commitment. 

A New Generation of Farmers 

Launched in 2021 as a three-year pilot, ROO is the result of this partnership.  As founding partners, Nature’s Path and Riverside Natural Foods have always been financial supporters and now each contribute $100,000 annually to the growth and development of the ROO Program. Together, they’ve created a vibrant space for innovation, education, and real on-the-ground impact. The goal? Help farmers adopt more regenerative organic practices in a way that’s both practical and scalable, while simultaneously bringing together passionate brands, processors, agronomists, and environmental champions to provide technical and financial assistance to grow organic oats using regenerative organic best practices – helping our industry inset, not offset, its environmental and climate impacts.  

The ROO program leads with education and empowerment by: 

• Providing data, tools, and expert support to help growers adopt climate-smart practices and develop robust farm systems planning. 
• Building farmer-to-farmer community-of-practice networks which support collaboration and shared learning. 
• Driving market opportunities for Organic & Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) growers through product innovation like Nature’s Path’s ROC Oatmeals in Berries & Cream or Dark Chocolate & Cocoa. 

ROO is successfully building a strong community centered around regenerative organic farming. It’s not just about growing healthy & delicious food—it’s about restoring the land, protecting the planet, and empowering farmers and consumers alike to make meaningful, lasting change.  

Sowing the Seeds of Success 

What started as a modest pilot — with just five growers in year one – has since grown into a thriving community of 30 farmers cultivating over 36,000 organic acres, each playing a key role in shaping the program’s early success. The initial enthusiasm and momentum generated clearly demonstrates the demand and value for a program like ROO. Farmers welcomed the partnership, not just for its practical agronomic benefits, but for the sense of solidarity it brought to an often-isolated profession. This is especially true within the smaller minority of organic farmers.  

After the three-year pilot program, the feedback is in—and it’s glowing. Every farmer who participated in the first cohort said the program exceeded their expectations. One participant called it “An excellent community with good camaraderie.” Another added that, “What I found under the Regenerative Organic Oats Program is [that] the healing of – soil is critical [to] understanding the detriments that have been happening over the last 40 to 50 years.”  

The Future is Now 

Looking ahead, the program is entering a new and exciting chapter: ROO 2.0! As we move into a new five-year program cycle beginning in 2025, all current participants have been invited to extend their involvement. With a renewed sense of enthusiasm, we’re excited to see ROO 2.0 grow the community even further, with a recruitment goal of welcoming eight new farmers into the program annually and expanding even more regenerative organic acres! Additionally, a formal governance structure and ROO Partner Steering Committee have been established to guide growth, ensure farmer input remains central, and support the program’s long-term sustainability. New pathways are under consideration to welcome additional certified organic brands and supply chain partners, opening the door for even broader industry participation for greater impact. 

Learnings From the Field for All! 

To further support the regenerative organic farming movement and ensure momentum is maintained throughout the length of this program, COG has developed and launched the Regenerative Organic (RO) Hub. The ROO Hub is a free to use, open-source online platform packed with curated resources for all farmers at each stage along the regenerative organic journey. From how-to guides and benchmarking tools to a robust resource library on best farm management practices, and access to incentive programs and supporting organizations; this hub makes it easier than ever to start—or continue—a regenerative organic journey, offering everything a curious, eco-minded grower needs, all in one place and completely free to the public.  

What makes this program special isn’t just the practices – it’s the people. ROO farmers are reimagining our food system, blending innovation with tradition, and championing food systems change that benefits the entire organic supply chain, from seed to fork. The ROO Program proves that by working together, we can grow more than food—we can grow a brighter, healthier tomorrow. With ongoing support from Nature’s Path, Riverside Natural Foods, Bay State Milling, and Canadian Organic Growers, the protection of vital ecosystems and the promotion of innovative farming that work to place people and planet first have become a reality across regenerative organic oat fields in the Canadian Prairies. 

About the authors

Nature’s Path Organic Foods is North America’s largest, independent & family-owned company, producing USDA and Canadian Certified Organic, Regenerative Organic Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified breakfast, baking, and snack foods sold in grocery and natural food stores in over 50 countries around the world. Committed to the triple bottom line— socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and financially viable — Nature’s Path works diligently to support communities and champion the cause of people and planet for a brighter food future. 

Riverside Natural Foods is a purpose-driven Canadian food company committed to making delicious, organic snacks that nourish people and the planet. With a deep-rooted belief in accessibility, sustainability, and compassion for people, Riverside champions organic agriculture, strives to minimize environmental and social impacts, and works to make good food a reality for all.