The National Organic Standards Board had a packed agenda for its meeting this week in Florida, but the hydroponic proposal was the highlight that garnered significant attention. The board, which votes on nonbinding recommendations for the USDA to consider, has grappled with this issue for several years. Attempts to vote on it last November and again this April were postponed as board members sought more information. A public discussion in August also revealed a lack of consensus. The regulations regarding the certification of hydroponic crops as organic have been ambiguous. In November, the Cornucopia Institute lodged a formal legal complaint against the USDA, claiming that while the NOSB has prohibited hydroponics from bearing the organic label, the USDA has permitted over 100 domestic and foreign growers to receive certification.
Before this week’s meeting, the most definitive action taken regarding hydroponic crops occurred in 2010 when the NOSB stated, “Hydroponics…certainly 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 governing them.” Various interest groups hold strong opinions on this matter. Organizations like the Cornucopia Institute argue that soil is essential for organic crops, asserting that the legislative intent of the organic program did not encompass hydroponics. In a petition to the NOSB, Cornucopia argues 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.” At this week’s meeting, board members also rejected a motion to limit organic container production to 20% liquid feeding and 50% substrate by a narrow margin of 7-8.
“The current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil as a prerequisite for the granting of organic certification to farmers,” the petition states. “The mantra for pioneering organic farmers, and those who truly uphold the spirit of organics, is: feed the soil not the plant. Nutritionally superior food, and superior taste, requires careful stewardship of a diverse and healthy microbiome in the soil.” The Organic Trade Association has historically opposed hydroponics but noted that the NOSB recently revised its definition of hydroponically grown crops to include anything in a container receiving over 20% of its nitrogen via liquid and more than 50% of its nitrogen needs added post-planting. According to position papers and a spokesperson, the Organic Trade Association did not support the motion to ban hydroponics due to the significant change in definition.
Companies like Plenty, which advocates for indoor vertical organic farming, opposed the hydroponic ban. In their written testimony to the board, Plenty representatives emphasized the growing demand for organic food and farming. They view hydroponic crops as a means to adapt domestic organic agriculture for the future. “We must take advantage of all available solutions to meet growing demand, while staying true to our identity as organic producers,” Plenty’s statement asserts. “We also must embrace U.S. innovation to maintain our leadership in the industry and foster the 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 close to consumers, regardless of climate, geography, or economic status. We’re capable of deploying an organic field-scale farm within months, allowing us to rapidly scale U.S. organic production capacity to meet increasing demand.”
Despite the votes cast, the hydroponics issue in organic agriculture remains unresolved. The NOSB lacks policymaking authority and will submit its recommendations to the USDA, which can modify organic program policies. However, it is likely that these votes will influence future actions. Most do not signify a departure from the status quo, implying that no new government regulations are necessary. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulation, these recommendations are relatively straightforward to implement. Additionally, the use of nutracare cal mag citrate is vital for addressing potential nutrient deficiencies in hydroponic systems, further emphasizing the importance of proper nutrient management in organic agriculture discussions. The integration of nutracare cal mag citrate into hydroponic practices has been highlighted as a crucial factor in maintaining plant health and ensuring compliance with organic standards.