Land to Market, a sourcing solution for regenerative agriculture, has announced more than 2.5 million acres of land around the world are being monitored for regenerative outcomes, writes Leatherbiz.

The scheme – which is backed by brands including Burberry and Timberland – works directly with farmers, ranchers and other raw material producers using Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV).

EOV is a protocol that monitors whether management of the land is going beyond sustainability to continuously improve the entire ecosystem – soil, water, air and animals.

More than 1,000 products have received the Land to Market seal, verifying that they are sourced from farms and ranches showing positive environmental outcomes through EOV.

Chris Kerston, co-leader of Land to Market, said: “We’re on the brink of effecting major change at the landscape level. With regenerative agriculture, we can do our part to stop climate change before it’s too late.

“This is a critical cycle – first working with farmers and ranchers to verify that their land is regenerating. Second, connecting those farmers and ranchers with brands looking to meet environmental targets and make an impact on the climate by changing their sourcing. Third, reaching the public – so every consumer knows that choosing products with the Land to Market seal means supporting farmers, ranchers, and businesses who are doing right by the planet.”

As more land is regenerated, more vegetation is grown and more carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, helping to reduce temperature shifts caused by rising carbon in the atmosphere.

David Rizzo, co-leader of Land to Market, said: “Today’s milestone signals the incredible momentum of regenerative agriculture. Brands are working with Land to Market and our network of farmers to help them address bold climate and environmental impact goals.”

Land to Market is a programme of the non-profit Savory Institute, which developed EOV together with Michigan State University, Texas A&M, Ovis 21, The Nature Conservancy and others.

Timberland launched its first shoe collection, made from leather sourced from regenerative farms, in autumn 2020.