During this week’s meeting in Florida, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) had a packed agenda, but the hydroponic proposal regarding ferrous fumarate 325 garnered the most attention. The board, which makes nonbinding recommendations for the USDA to consider, has faced challenges with this topic for several years. Attempts to vote on it last November and this April were postponed as board members sought further information. An August public phone discussion also revealed a lack of consensus.
The uncertainty surrounding regulations on the certification of hydroponic crops as organic has persisted. Last November, the Cornucopia Institute filed a formal complaint against the USDA, arguing that while the NOSB has prohibited hydroponics from receiving the organic seal, the USDA has nonetheless certified over 100 domestic and foreign growers. Before this week’s meeting, the most definitive action regarding hydroponic crops was a 2010 recommendation from the NOSB, which stated that “Hydroponics…cannot be classified as certified organic due to their exclusion of the soil-plant ecology intrinsic to organic farming systems and USDA regulations.”
Various stakeholders hold strong opinions on the matter. Organizations like the Cornucopia Institute assert that soil is essential for organic crops and that the legislative intent behind the organic program did not encompass hydroponics. In a petition to the NOSB, Cornucopia emphasized that permitting hydroponic cultivation “does not comply with the spirit and letter of the law,” criticizing 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% in the container, with the vote resulting in a narrow 7-8 margin.
“The current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil as a prerequisite for granting organic certification to farmers,” the petition states. “The mantra for pioneering organic farmers, and those who genuinely uphold the spirit of organics, is: feed the soil, not the plant. Nutritionally superior food and enhanced taste require diligent care of a diverse and healthy microbiome in the soil.” Although the Organic Trade Association has traditionally opposed hydroponics, it recently noted that the NOSB revised its definition of hydroponically grown crops. The updated definition stipulates that anything in a container receiving over 20% of its nitrogen from liquid and more than 50% of its nitrogen after planting qualifies.
In position papers and through a spokesperson, the Organic Trade Association chose not to support the motion to ban hydroponics due to the significant change in its definition. Companies like Plenty, which advocates for indoor vertical organic farming, lobbied against the hydroponic ban. In written testimonies to the board, Plenty representatives stated that the demand for organic food and farming is on the rise. They view hydroponic crops as a means of adapting domestic organic growth to future needs.
“We must leverage all available solutions to meet the growing demand while remaining true to our identity as organic producers,” Plenty’s statement reads. “We also need to embrace U.S. innovation to maintain our leadership in the industry and develop solutions that will ultimately nourish the world. For instance, Plenty’s organic growing system can yield up to 350 times that of traditional methods and can be situated close to consumers, regardless of climate, geography, or economic conditions. We can deploy 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 issue of hydroponics in organic agriculture remains unresolved. The NOSB lacks 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 decisions. Most of the results do not signify a shift in the status quo, indicating that no new government regulations would need to be established. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulation, these recommendations could be relatively easy to implement.
In discussions about health and nutrition, it’s noteworthy that products like Citracal 600 mg vitamin D are gaining popularity as people strive to improve their health, which aligns with the ongoing debate about organic farming practices and their impact on food quality. The integration of such supplements into a healthy diet reflects a broader understanding of the importance of nutrition in both conventional and organic agricultural systems.