How it Works
Farm Rating
A clear framework — from conventional farming through to fully regenerative. Know exactly what kind of farm you’re buying from before you order.
🌿 Organic farms are recognised as Tier (X) + Organic
C
Conv.
1
Tier 1
2
Tier 2
3
Tier 3
4
Tier 4
Conventional
Conventional Farming
- No requirements on farming practices beyond NZ law
- May use synthetic fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides
01 — Regenerative Pathway
Tier 1
- Diverse pastures on 10%+ of productive land
- Reduce synthetic fertiliser inputs
- Annual Soil Food Web soil testing
- Plant or promote diverse grazing pastures on at least 10% of productive land — without seeding, diverse pastures are promoted using adaptive grazing management
- Reduce synthetic fertiliser inputs
- Baseline plus annual Soil Food Web Total Package soil testing
- Working toward Tier 2
02 — Regenerative Pathway
Tier 2
- Eliminate all synthetic fertilisers
- No-till methods, managed grazing to reduce pugging
- 2-yearly soil testing
Tier 1 requirements, plus:
- Eliminate all synthetic fertilisers — replace with biological inputs or eliminate fertilisers entirely
- Minimise soil disturbance using no-till methods and grazing management that reduces pugging
- Baseline plus 2-yearly Soil Food Web Total Package soil testing
- Working toward Tier 3
03 — Regenerative
Tier 3
- Daily adaptive grazing moves on 80%+ of land for 9+ months
- Reduced pharmaceutical and chemical inputs
- 3-yearly soil testing
Tier 2 requirements, plus:
- Adaptive grazing with at least daily animal moves on 80%+ of productive land for 9+ months per year
- Adequate pasture recovery before re-grazing
- Demonstrated reduced reliance on pharmaceutical animal health inputs within 2 years
- Demonstrated reduced reliance on pesticides, fungicides and herbicides within 2 years
- 3-yearly Soil Food Web Total Package soil testing
04 — Regenerative
Tier 4
- Trees in grazing pastures on 20%+ of productive land
- 3-yearly soil testing
Tier 3 requirements, plus:
- Trees planted along fence lines or dispersed throughout paddocks within grazing pastures on at least 20% of productive land
- 3-yearly Soil Food Web Total Package soil testing
Find a farmer on the regenerative pathway
Every listing shows the farm’s tier rating so you know exactly what you’re buying.
Find a Farmer Near You →