USDA Regenerative Agriculture Program labelled greenwashing by American NGOs (Beyond Pesticides, FOE US)

Several NGOs, including Beyond Pesticides and Friends of the Earth, accuse the U.S. Department of Agriculture of "greenwashing" after it announced the launch of a "New Regenerative Agriculture Program" on 10/12/2025.
NGOs to accuse the USDA of "greenwashing" after its Regenerative Agriculture Program launched on 10/12/25

The pilot program, worth $700 million, aims to help American farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, enhance water quality, and boost long-term productivity, according to the USDA. However, Beyond Pesticides highlights that "regenerative agriculture, as it is embraced by major food and pharmaceutical companies, like Bayer, allows for wide use of weed killers and various petrochemical pesticides and is not defined as a transition to organic practices and compatible products."

There are seven tendencies in Regenerative Agriculture, f.e, avoiding soil disturbance, reducing the use of external inputs like herbicides and pesticides, and efficient water management. Organic farming has to complete five of them to be certified, while the USDA pilot program plans…