Journal

With a mission to heal people, empower farmers, and support the regeneration of the Earth, we are striving to create an alternative path away from conventional, commodity farming and corporate industrial agriculture and towards regenerative agriculture, paving the way for a higher standard in the herbal wellness industry. 

Founder & CEO, Stephen Smith, says, “The concept of “sustainable” just isn’t enough anymore. We are past the point of sustaining on this Planet. We need to start regenerating what has been lost. That’s why our team at Onda is so passionate about making regenerative hemp oil. It’s not just a “better” way of farming, it’s a way of healing the land and ultimately ourselves.” Read on to learn exactly how we measure our regenerative efforts.

Onda Becomes the World's First Verified Regenerative Hemp Oil

In May of 2021, Land to Market, the world’s first verified sourcing solution for regenerative agriculture welcomed our Boulder, Colorado-based company, Onda Wellness, as a member of Land to Market, and verify its first hemp CBD oil products, with hemp sourced from Casad Family Farms, which is verified as regenerating through the Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV).

Land to Market is best known for its impact in categories such as meat, dairy, wool, leather, and cashmere, the program currently has pilots in development for hemp, viticulture, fruit and berry production, cotton, and small grain and almonds. “The partnership between Onda Wellness and Casad Family Farms is one of our favorite success stories,” said Chris Kerston, co-leader of Land to Market. “We are working with crops as a pilot where animals are mixed in as a polyculture."

"The idea is to mimic nature, and nature is always using plants and animals working together. When livestock are built into the cropping system, it makes for a better return on investment, resulting in land that’s healthier, more resilient, and more productive,” continued Kerston.

What is the Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV)?

Regenerative agriculture has recently grown in popularity and is receiving a lot of press coverage. But how do we know the land we are farming or buying our products from is actually restoring the land it uses? This is where the EOV™ or Ecological Outcome Verification, a global measurement program created in 2004, comes in. EOV™ was developed by Savory Institute in collaboration with Michigan State University, Texas A&M, Ovis 21, The Nature Conservancy, and an extensive network of regenerative land managers around the world.

EOV was designed to verify for farmers and consumers that a given piece of land is regenerating, or becoming healthier and absorbing more carbon than previously. EOV is a regenerative agricultural process with a focus on the health of the land we use, its biodiversity, and the ecosystem that surrounds it.

• EOV is a soil testing and evaluation method that is based on science and ensures healthier soil and longer-lasting farms.
• EOV is not a certification of practices, but rather a verification of data outcomes in the soil and farms' ecosystem.
• EOV is not a way to do things, but rather a way to measure if what you’re doing is working.
• EOV allows you to harness the power of soil science and farm management while allowing the land to speak for itself through its empirical and tangible outcomes.

This measurement helps the land steward stay on track for long-term, sustainable agriculture, and helps the consumer understand they are choosing products that make a positive impact on our earth.

Incubated within the Savory Institute, the program’s Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) protocol and Land to Market Verified seal have attracted more than 50 of the world’s leading brands seeking to make an impact on the climate crisis by restoring the land via measurable outcomes.

To see the story of Onda + Casad Family Farms, watch this video showcasing our recent hemp harvest.

About Land to Market

A leader in the regenerative agriculture movement, Land to Market, is the world’s first outcomes-based verified regenerative sourcing solution. The program’s Land to Market Verified seal has attracted some of the world’s leading consumer packaged goods companies, apparel brands, and retailers.

Born within the Savory Institute, Land to Market uses a science-based approach working directly with raw material producers to enhance transparency and traceability mechanisms across the entire value chain. To see the full list of Land to Market members, visit http://landtomarket.com.

Conclusion

The concept of “sustainable” just isn’t enough anymore. We are past the point of sustaining on this planet. We need not just neutral existence, but proactive and beneficial action and participation from all beings to try to heal the degradation of the Earth. We support farming that considers the long-term benefits of building soil health, restoring ecosystems, and producing nutrient-dense food and herbal medicine.

Four of our Whole Hemp™ CBD oil tinctures are now verified to meet Land to Market’s regenerative agriculture standards and are now available to purchase online on our website.