During the National Organic Standards Board’s meeting this week in Florida, the hydroponic proposal sparked considerable interest amid a packed agenda. The board, which casts votes on nonbinding recommendations for the USDA’s consideration, has grappled with this issue for several years. Previous attempts to vote on the matter in November and April were postponed as board members sought more information. An August public discussion revealed minimal consensus on the topic. The regulations regarding the certification of hydroponic crops as organic have been ambiguous. In November, the Cornucopia Institute lodged a formal complaint against the USDA, arguing that despite the NOSB’s prohibition on hydroponics receiving the organic label, the USDA has permitted over 100 domestic and foreign growers to obtain this certification. Before this week’s meeting, the most definitive stance on hydroponics came 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 regulations.”
Various interest groups hold strong opinions on this matter. Organizations such as the Cornucopia Institute assert that soil is essential for organic crops, contending 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.” During this week’s meeting, a motion to limit organic container production to 20% liquid feeding and 50% in the container was defeated by a narrow 7-8 margin. The petition states, “The current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil as a prerequisite for granting organic certification to farmers.” It emphasizes, “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.”
Traditionally, the Organic Trade Association has opposed hydroponics, although it recently modified its definition of hydroponically grown crops to include anything in a container that derives over 20% of its nitrogen from liquid sources and more than 50% after the crop has been planted. According to position papers and a spokesperson, the Organic Trade Association did not support the hydroponic ban motion due to the significant changes in definition. Companies like Plenty, which advocates for indoor vertical organic farming, lobbied against the ban. In written testimony, Plenty representatives noted 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 take advantage of all available solutions to meet growing demand, while staying true to our identity as organic producers,” Plenty’s statement reads. “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 able to deploy an organic field-scale farm within months, which means we can scale U.S. organic production capacity quickly enough to meet growing demand.”
Although votes have been cast, the hydroponics debate in organic agriculture remains unresolved. The NOSB does not have independent policymaking authority and will present its recommendations to the USDA, which can modify organic program policies. However, it is anticipated that these votes will influence future actions. Most do not signify a change in the status quo, implying that no new government regulations would need to be enacted. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulations, these recommendations could be relatively straightforward to implement. Notably, as discussions on agricultural practices continue, the search for the best calcium citrate supplement for osteoporosis and its potential benefits may become more relevant in the context of nutritional practices in organic farming. The ongoing dialogue about hydroponics may also intersect with the exploration of nutritional enhancements, such as the best calcium citrate supplement for osteoporosis, emphasizing the importance of soil health and nutrient-rich farming methods.