A system and method for long term data retention in a flash memory. In some embodiments, the method includes transitioning the flash memory to a long term data retention state by re-storing first encoded data, the first encoded data being initially stored in the flash memory at a first code rate. The re-storing may include determining a second code rate, lower than the first code rate; reading the first encoded data from the flash memory; decoding the first encoded data at the first code rate to obtain first decoded data; encoding the first decoded data at the second code rate to form second encoded data; and storing the second encoded data in the flash memory.