CoreCertification Regulations (ISO/IEC 17065)

Change log

1 Purpose and scope

The certification scheme 'Approved Regenerating' certifies continuous regenerative improvement of agricultural operations based on the AgriPurpose Framework. It assesses regenerative performance through measurable outcomes related to soil health, landscape vitality, protection, and resource efficiency.

2 Legal basis and ownership

AgriPurpose Foundation (Switzerland) is the standard setter and scheme owner of the 'Approved Regenerating' standard and this certification scheme. AgriPurpose Foundation licenses AgriPurpose AG as the operational entity that runs the programme and coordinates its implementation with consultants, soil samplers, soil laboratories and Certification Bodies at arm's length. Certification activities are performed under ISO/IEC 17065:2012 conformity assessment principles by independent certification bodies accredited for ISO/IEC 17065 by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) or an IAF MLA signatory accreditation body.

3 Definitions

• 'Field' refers to a distinct management unit with a defined polygon in the AgriPurpose platform.

• 'Down year' refers to a year in which one or more outcome domains show negative performance trends.

• 'Consultant' refers to an accredited 'Approved Regenerating' consultant recognised by the scheme.

• 'Soil sample' refers to one laboratory-analysed composite sample (Precision Sampling Location, PSL) prepared according to the SOC Sampling Protocol.

• 'Sampling intensity' is expressed as hectares per soil sample (ha/sample) at the operation level for a given sampling year.

• 'Suspension' is a temporary removal from the certification program until compliance is restored.

• 'Withdrawal' refers to full revocation of certification and removal from the program.

• 'Validation' refers to the annual calculation and assessment of a farm's four outcome domains by AgriPurpose AG using the approved Calculation Model (Annex C).

• 'Validated farm' refers to a farm whose annual results have been validated by AgriPurpose AG. Validation alone is not certification.

• 'Certified programme' refers to a programme audited and certified by an independent ISO/IEC 17065 accredited Certification Body.

• 'Certified farm' refers to a validated farm that is part of a certified programme.

• 'Population (n)' refers to all farms in the programme in a certification cycle. No distinction is made between types of farms.

• 'Open issue' refers to any of the following: an open nonconformity from a previous audit; a data anomaly or failed plausibility check flagged during validation; a substantiated complaint or suspected misuse of the mark; a change in eligible area or ownership of more than 20 %; or a deviation from Annex B or Annex B1.

4 Certification principles

The certification follows the principles of context-specific, outcome-based, and life-enhancing evaluation. It is governed by transparency, impartiality, confidentiality, and scientific traceability in line with ISO/IEC 17065 requirements.

5 Certification requirements

To be eligible for certification, the operator shall:

• Upload field polygons and management data correctly (all cultivated fields excluding forests, infrastructure, waterbodies or rock areas).

• Must have the legal ownership of all the fields and it must be free of embargoes and not located in protected areas or indigenous territories.

• Perform the RegenerationDialogue process (diagnostic and reflection) where required by the scheme. The Farmer agrees to participate in a Regeneration Dialogue – a data‑driven recorded discussion done alone or with an agronomist lasting approximately one hour – to identify used practices with the greatest ecological and economic benefits. The consultation session shall be recorded. The audio file will be uploaded and transcribed, and a summary of the recommendations will be provided to the Farmer

• Conduct soil sampling in accordance with the SOC Sampling Protocol and the Soil Sampling Coverage Rule (Annex B1).

• Submit annual yield and input data.

• Demonstrate continuous improvement across the four outcome domains.

• Compliance with all local laws, particularly in the areas of landownership and land lease, environmental regulations, water rights, as well as regulations for animal welfare, seed patents and biotechnology, regulations for agricultural work and workers safety. In addition, compliance with food safety regulations and label programs.

5.1 Soil sampling - coverage, minimums, and caps (normative)

The soil sampling plan is designed to balance representativeness, feasibility, and scientific traceability. Unless a justified exception is documented by the Certification Body, the following rules apply:

1. Sampling shall be performed as per the AgriPurpose Precision Sampling algorithm or another registered and approved sampling scheme. Any sampling must be in accordance with carbon market regulations as set by VERRA, GoldStandard or a similar body.

2. Minimum per sampled field: At least 3 soil samples (PSLs) shall be taken in each field that is selected for sampling.

3. Minimum annual field coverage (until first full coverage): At least 25% of the operation's eligible fields shall be sampled per year according to the AgriPurpose algorithm, or a equivalent solution registered by AgriPurpose until each eligible field has been sampled at least once.

4. Cap rule: The annual sampling plan shall comply with the cap defined in Annex B1. In summary: (1a) the annual plan shall not be more intensive than 1 soil sample per 3 ha on average across the operation (i.e., operation-level average ha/sample >= 3); or (1b) where meeting the minimum annual field coverage would result in an average sampling intensity more intensive than 1 sample per 3 ha (ha/sample < 3), sampling shall be limited to one third of fields.

AgriPurpose AG reviews and approves the annual sampling plan and documents any exceptions and the resulting multi-year coverage plan. For audited farms, the Certification Body verifies the sampling plan and its implementation.

6 Outcome domains

A farm qualifies as 'Approved Regenerating' when positive trends are demonstrated in all of the four domains. One negative year is permitted if corrective measures are documented through the RegenerationDialogue process. A second down year leads to a mandatory consulting with a consultant listed by AgriPurpose AG and an action plan to be established and executed the year after.

7 Certification procedure

7.1 Application

Operators submit field data, baseline information, and consent for analysis via the AgriPurpose portal.

7.2 Evaluation and validation

AgriPurpose AG validates all participating farms annually. It checks data completeness and plausibility, soil sampling compliance and RegenerationDialogue completion where applicable, and evaluates performance using the approved Calculation Model (Annex C). Only farms that are part of a certified programme may use the status badges (Annex G).

7.3 Feedback and Support

AgriPurpose will provide the Farmer with summaries of the Regeneration Dialogue and calculation results. The summary will identify practices that contributed positively or negatively to field performance, enabling the Farmer to replicate successful actions and address shortcomings. This process aims to prioritise cost‑effective, high‑impact improvements and to automate steps where possible, including deforestation checks and action‑plan tracking as described in the process guide.

7.4 Decision

Where certification is required, the Certification Body audits the programme annually, including the validation process of AgriPurpose AG, audits farms as defined in 7.4.1, and makes the certification decision independently of the audit team. Certificates are valid for one year and require annual validation by AgriPurpose AG.

7.4.1 Audit sampling

Each year the Certification Body audits at least √n farms of the population, rounded up. The sample is selected in the following order:

a) Mandatory audits: every farm in its second consecutive down year and every farm with an open issue;

b) First-audit rule: every farm that would otherwise complete its fifth year in the programme without an audit;

c) Top-up: further farms selected on a risk basis and at random until at least √n farms are audited.

Farms audited under a) and b) count towards √n. Where more than √n farms fall under a) and b), all of them are audited. Every farm is audited at least once within its first five years in the programme; thereafter, a farm without open issues is audited only when selected under c). These rules apply to all farms in the programme alike.

Where the programme audit identifies a major nonconformity in the validation by AgriPurpose AG, the Certification Body extends the sample and AgriPurpose AG corrects the validation of all affected farms.

7.5 Surveillance

Annual data updates and reviews are required. Soil sampling follows the Soil Sampling Coverage Rule (Annex B1). Surveillance audits follow the sampling rules in 7.4.1 and ensure continuous compliance.

7.6 Down-Year and Withdrawal Process

1. First down year: The operator shall provide reasoning and evidence that RegenerationDialogue insights were applied to improve management.

2. Second consecutive down year: The operator shall book a consultation with an accredited Approved Regenerating consultant, define an action plan, and follow its implementation. The farm is audited in the same certification cycle (7.4.1 a).

3. If the action plan is not followed or if there is another down year, the certification is suspended.

4. Continued non-compliance after suspension results in withdrawal or suspension from the program.

5. The down-year rules, including the consultation, apply to all farms in the programme alike.

8 Certificate validity

Certificates are valid for one year. Surveillance audits are conducted annually on a sample of operations as defined in 7.4.1. Re-certification follows after each certification cycle.

9 Roles and responsibilities

• AgriPurpose Foundation - Standard setter and scheme owner; maintains the standard and scheme rules; approves revisions; oversees governance with the Board of Trustees and Stakeholder Management Groups.

• AgriPurpose AG - Operational entity under licence from the scheme owner; runs the programme and the data platform, performs the calculations and the annual validation of all farms in the programme, and coordinates the implementation with consultants, soil samplers, soil laboratories and Certification Bodies at arm's length (no audits, no certification decisions).

• Certification Body - Independent ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification body; performs the audits of the programme, including the validation by AgriPurpose AG, and of the farms defined in 7.4.1, and makes the certification decisions.

• Consultants, soil samplers and soil laboratories - Independent service providers listed by AgriPurpose AG; they work at arm's length from AgriPurpose AG and from the Certification Body.

• Auditors - Qualified agronomists/soil experts that have a good understanding of Regenerative Agriculture and/or have at least 5 years of practical experience on farm with Regenerative Agriculture and is trained in the scheme requirements. All auditors need to be trained by AgriPurpose AG or an entity nominated by AgriPurpose AG. All Auditors need to be listed in the Auditor approval list maintained by AgriPurpose AG and be trained on all updates of the scheme periodically.

• Operators (validated or certified) - Responsible for accurate data entry, record-keeping, and continuous improvement.

10 Impartiality and confidentiality

All personnel involved in certification act independently. Conflicts of interest are identified and mitigated. All certification staff sign impartiality and confidentiality declarations.

Validation staff of AgriPurpose AG are separated from sales and consulting functions, shall not validate farms they have advised, and cannot override a decision of the Certification Body.

11 Use of the label

The label 'Approved Regenerating' and its status badges may only be used by farms that are part of a certified programme, in accordance with the Logo Use Guideline (Annex G), and always with the line 'Certified by [Certification Body] – Certificate no. [AR-…]'. The right to use the label ends as soon as a farm is no longer part of a certified programme. Farms in a certified programme decide whether they are published in the online register and may opt in or out at any time. Misuse results in written warning, suspension, or withdrawal.

12 Complaints and appeals

Complaints and appeals are submitted in writing to the certification body. Decisions are reviewed by an independent committee within 30 days.

13 Record keeping and data protection

All certification data is retained for at least ten years. Data is stored securely on Swiss ISO 27001-certified servers and handled in compliance with GDPR and FADP.

14 Internal audit and management review

AgriPurpose Foundation conducts annual internal reviews of scheme governance. Certification bodies maintain their internal audit and management review processes in line with ISO/IEC 17065.

15 Annexes

• A. Approved Regenerating Checkpoints for Certifiers

• B. SOC Sampling Protocol v2.2 (or later approved version)

• B1. Soil Sampling Coverage Rule (Cap and Coverage) - Annex

• C. Calculation Model

• D. Application Form

• E. Certification Agreement (template)

• F. Certificate Template

• G. Logo Use Guideline

• H. Impartiality Policy

• S6. Farmer Services & Reporting Agreement (template)

• Supporting documents S1–S5 as listed in the Scheme Document Register; they are informative unless referenced as normative in these Regulations.