During this week’s meeting in Florida, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) had a packed agenda, but the hydroponics proposal garnered significant attention. The board, which votes on nonbinding recommendations that the USDA considers, has been grappling with this issue for several years. Attempts to vote on the matter last November and this April were postponed as board members sought additional information. An August telephone discussion also revealed a lack of consensus on the topic. The regulations surrounding the certification of hydroponic crops as organic have been ambiguous. In November, the Cornucopia Institute filed a formal complaint against the USDA, asserting that while the NOSB has prohibited hydroponics from receiving the organic seal, the USDA has allowed over 100 domestic and foreign growers to obtain certification.
Prior to this week’s meeting, the only significant action regarding hydroponic crops occurred in 2010, when the NOSB issued a recommendation stating that “Hydroponics… cannot be classified as certified organic growing methods due to their exclusion of the soil-plant ecology intrinsic to organic farming systems and USDA/National Organic Program regulations.” Various interest groups hold strong opinions on this matter. Organizations like the Cornucopia Institute advocate that soil is essential for organic crops and argue that the legislative intent of the organic program does not encompass hydroponics.
In a petition to the NOSB, Cornucopia claims that permitting hydroponic cultivation “does not comply with the spirit and letter of the law,” and criticizes container growth—which allows some liquid feeding and a substrate like compost—as “a recipe for widespread cheating.” During this week’s meeting, board members also rejected a motion to limit organic container production to 20% liquid feeding and 50% substrate, with a close vote of 7-8. The petition emphasizes, “The current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil as a prerequisite for granting organic certification to farmers,” advocating for the mantra of pioneering organic farmers: “feed the soil, not the plant.” This philosophy, they argue, ensures nutritionally superior food and taste through the careful management of a diverse and healthy soil microbiome.
Traditionally, the Organic Trade Association has not endorsed hydroponics; however, they noted that the NOSB recently revised its definition of hydroponically grown crops to include anything in a container that receives over 20% of its nitrogen through liquid and more than 50% of its nitrogen added after planting. According to position papers and a spokesperson, the Organic Trade Association did not support the motion to ban hydroponics due to this significant change in definition.
Companies like Plenty, which advocates for indoor vertical organic farming, lobbied against the hydroponic ban. In their written testimony to the board, representatives from Plenty highlighted the increasing demand for organic food and farming. They view hydroponic crops as a viable solution for adapting domestic organic production to future needs. “We must take advantage of all available solutions to meet growing demand while remaining true to our identity as organic producers,” stated Plenty. “Furthermore, we must embrace U.S. innovation to sustain our leadership in the industry and develop solutions that will ultimately feed the world. For instance, Plenty’s organic growing system yields up to 350 times that of traditional systems and can be situated near consumers, independent of climate, geography, or economic status. We can deploy an organic field-scale farm within months, thereby rapidly expanding U.S. organic production capacity to meet increasing demand.”
Despite the votes cast, the issue of hydroponics in organic agriculture remains unresolved. The NOSB lacks its own policymaking authority and will present its recommendations to the USDA, which has the power to modify organic program policies. However, it is likely that these votes will influence future actions. Most of the votes do not signify a shift from the status quo, meaning no new government regulations would need to be established. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulation, implementing these recommendations should be relatively straightforward.
In the context of maintaining a healthy microbiome in the soil, understanding the proper intake of nutrients like calcium citrate is essential. Many people wonder, “How much to take?” when it comes to supplements like calcium citrate, as it plays a crucial role in supporting the health of the soil and, consequently, organic farming practices. The emphasis on nutrient balance extends not just to plants but also to the broader agricultural ecosystem, reinforcing the importance of considering all aspects of organic farming in discussions like these.