During its meeting this week in Florida, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) had a packed agenda, but the hydroponic proposal was the focal point of significant attention. The board, which votes on nonbinding recommendations for the USDA to consider, has been grappling with this matter for several years. Attempts to vote on it last November and this April were postponed as board members sought additional information. A public telephone discussion in August also revealed a lack of consensus on the topic. The regulations surrounding the certification of hydroponic crops as organic have remained ambiguous. Last November, the Cornucopia Institute filed a formal complaint against the USDA, arguing that while the NOSB has prohibited hydroponics from receiving the organic label, the USDA has permitted over 100 domestic and foreign growers to obtain this certification.
Before this week’s meeting, the only somewhat conclusive action regarding hydroponics occurred in 2010 when the NOSB recommended that “Hydroponics… cannot be classified as certified organic growing methods due to their exclusion of the soil-plant ecology essential to organic farming systems and USDA regulations governing them.” Various interest groups have strong opinions on this matter. For example, organizations like the Cornucopia Institute maintain that soil is vital for organic crops, asserting that the legislative intent of the organic program did not encompass hydroponics. In a petition to the NOSB, Cornucopia argued 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 the 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 petition emphasized, “Current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil to qualify for organic certification for farmers.” It highlighted a foundational principle for pioneering organic farmers: “Feed the soil, not the plant.” The petition asserted that nutritionally superior food and taste necessitate careful management of a diverse and healthy soil microbiome. Traditionally, the Organic Trade Association has been opposed to hydroponics; however, the group noted that the NOSB recently revised its definition of hydroponically grown crops. Under the new definition, anything grown in a container that receives more than 20% of its nitrogen through liquid and more than 50% of its nitrogen after planting qualifies.
Companies like Plenty, which advocates for indoor vertical organic farming, opposed the ban on hydroponics. In written testimony to the board, representatives from Plenty stated that the demand for organic food and farming continues to rise. They view hydroponic crops as a means to adapt domestic organic growth for the future. “We must utilize all available solutions to meet increasing demand while remaining true to our identity as organic producers,” Plenty’s statement read. “We also need to embrace U.S. innovation to maintain leadership in the industry and develop solutions that will ultimately sustain the world’s food supply. For instance, Plenty’s organic growing system yields up to 350 times that of conventional systems and can be situated near consumers, irrespective of climate, geography, or economic conditions. We can establish an organic field-scale farm within months, enabling us to scale U.S. organic production rapidly to meet rising demand.”
Despite the votes cast, the hydroponics issue in organic agriculture remains unresolved. The NOSB lacks its own policymaking authority and will forward its recommendations to the USDA, which has the power to alter organic program policy. However, it is probable that these votes will influence future decisions. Most of them do not significantly alter the current situation, meaning no new government regulations would need to be enacted. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulations, implementing these recommendations is relatively straightforward.
In addition, many proponents are interested in the calcium citrate ingredients in organic hydroponic products, as they emphasize the nutritional benefits that can be derived from such practices. The role of calcium citrate ingredients in enhancing the quality of hydroponically grown crops is increasingly being recognized, and its significance could be a focal point in ongoing discussions about the future of organic farming.