During the National Organic Standards Board’s discussion on hydroponic crops on Monday afternoon, it became evident that there is no agreement on whether soil-less crops should be eligible for organic certification. “Clearly, this is not an easy topic to resolve,” remarked Tom Chapman, the board’s chairman. “It has been on the agenda since 1995.” The panel, which advises the U.S. Department of Agriculture on matters related to certified organic food and ingredients, has repeatedly moved the hydroponic issue from one meeting to the next over the years. Proposals have been discussed but have ultimately failed to gain traction. A vote on the matter scheduled for April was postponed, as members expressed a need for additional time, research, and feedback from stakeholders within the organic community.
Monday’s meeting was a public web conference where board members shared their perspectives on potential proposals regarding hydroponics, aquaponics, and container-grown produce. No votes were conducted, and no definitive proposals were presented. The board may address the issue again during its fall meeting from October 31 to November 2. The regulations concerning the certification of hydroponic crops remain ambiguous. Last November, the Cornucopia Institute lodged a formal complaint against the USDA, arguing that while the NOSB has prohibited hydroponics from receiving the organic seal, the USDA has allowed over 100 domestic and foreign growers to attain certification.
In 2010, the NOSB recommended that “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 regulations governing them.” A motion to permit hydroponic crops to be considered organic was on the agenda for the fall NOSB meeting in 2016 but was not voted on due to anticipation of its rejection. Instead, the members passed a resolution expressing a consensus against fully water-based hydroponic systems.
On Monday, Chapman indicated his likely support for the 2010 recommendation, but he noted that it does not clearly outline what is prohibited. “Are there substances that can be used for growing more hydroponic-based crops? If so, what would be acceptable?” he questioned. “We recognize this is a contentious issue, so I have attempted to identify common ground for the entire NOSB and build from there,” said member Steve Ela. However, common ground was scarce, as some board members expressed support for certifying hydroponic systems.
When the discussion shifted to aquaponic systems, where fish coexist with crops in nutrient-rich water, opinions diverged. Some members argued that untreated fish waste should prohibit aquaponics from organic certification, as this would not be allowed for soil-based organic crops. Others contended there has been insufficient research on any negative impacts to take a definitive stance.
There were also intense debates regarding the necessary soil or water content in container-grown crops. A proposed compromise from the NOSB’s Crops Committee suggested limits for organic crops: only 20% of nutrients could be supplied via liquid feeding, no more than 50% of nutrients could be added post-planting, and at least 50% of the container should comprise a substrate like compost. Proponents claimed this was aligned with similar regulations in the EU, which has also faced challenges on this front.
Members held mixed views. Some believed that one of the primary benefits of organic farming is its capacity to enhance soil over time—something this type of farming does not achieve. Others warned that imposing strict limitations on container-grown crops could hinder flexibility, while another group highlighted that some growers using these methods are already certified organic, which could lead to economic ramifications. “There doesn’t appear to be an acceptable middle ground,” Chapman stated.
The Crops Committee members committed to revising their proposals ahead of the fall meeting, but there is no assurance that these issues will be included in the agenda or that they will be voted on even if they are. After the board refrained from voting on anything related to elemental iron in hydroponics during the April meeting, many expressed skepticism about seeing any action on this topic this year.
In conclusion, as discussions continue, the board faces the challenge of determining how to equate calcium citrate and other nutrients within these various growing methods and whether to allow them to be certified organic, all while navigating the complexities of stakeholder opinions and existing regulations.