The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) had a busy agenda for its recent meeting in Florida, but the hydroponic proposal was the standout topic of interest. The NOSB, which votes on binding recommendations considered by the USDA, has faced challenges regarding this matter for many years. Previous attempts to vote on the proposal in November and April were postponed as board members sought additional information. An August public discussion revealed a lack of consensus on the issue. The regulations surrounding the certification of hydroponic crops as organic have been ambiguous. In November, the Cornucopia Institute filed a formal legal complaint against the USDA, arguing that while the NOSB has prohibited hydroponics from carrying the organic label, the USDA has certified over 100 domestic and international growers.
Prior to this week’s meeting, the only significant action taken 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 intrinsic to organic farming systems and USDA/National Organic Program regulations.” Various interest groups have strong opinions on this topic. Organizations like the Cornucopia Institute assert that soil is essential for organic crops, and 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,” criticizing container growth—a compromise that allows some liquid feeding and a substrate like compost—as “a recipe for widespread cheating.” During this week’s meeting, board members narrowly defeated a motion to limit organic container production to 20% liquid feeding and 50% substrate by a vote of 7-8.
The petition states, “The current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil as a prerequisite for granting organic certification to farmers.” It emphasizes that the guiding principle for pioneering organic farmers is to “feed the soil, not the plant.” Nutritionally superior food and enhanced taste necessitate the careful management of a diverse and healthy soil microbiome. Traditionally, the Organic Trade Association has not endorsed hydroponics; however, it recently adjusted its definition of hydroponically grown crops to include any container receiving more than 20% of its nitrogen through liquid and more than 50% 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, opposed the hydroponic ban. In written testimony presented to the board, representatives from Plenty highlighted the growing demand for organic food and farming, viewing hydroponic crops as a means to adapt domestic organic production for the future. “We must leverage all available solutions to meet increasing 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 foster solutions that will ultimately feed the world. For instance, Plenty’s organic growing system yields up to 350 times that of traditional methods and can be situated near consumers, regardless of climate or geography. We can establish an organic field-scale farm in a matter of months, enabling us to rapidly scale U.S. organic production capacity to meet rising demand.”
Despite votes being 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 alter organic program policies. However, it is likely that these votes will influence future actions. Most do not signal a shift in the status quo, meaning no new government regulations would be necessary. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulation, implementing these recommendations is relatively straightforward.
Incorporating products such as calcium citrate, calcium aspartate, calcium orotate, and vitamin D3 tablets into organic farming practices could also be part of the conversation as stakeholders consider various methods of enhancing soil health and crop yields.