During its recent meeting in Florida, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) had a packed agenda, but the hydroponic proposal captured significant attention. The board, which provides nonbinding recommendations for the USDA’s consideration, has grappled with this topic for several years. Attempts to vote on it last November and this April were postponed as board members sought more information. A public discussion held in August also revealed a lack of consensus on the matter. The regulations regarding the certification of hydroponic crops as organic have been ambiguous. Last November, the Cornucopia Institute lodged a formal complaint against the USDA, arguing that although the NOSB has prohibited hydroponics from carrying the organic label, the USDA has permitted over 100 domestic and foreign growers to obtain this certification.
Before this week’s meeting, the only notable action regarding hydroponic crops occurred in 2010, when 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 (National Organic Program) regulations governing them.” Various interest groups hold strong opinions on this issue. Organizations like the Cornucopia Institute assert that soil is essential for organic crops, and that the legislative intent of the organic program did not encompass hydroponics.
In its petition to the NOSB, Cornucopia argues that allowing hydroponic cultivation “does not comply with the spirit and letter of the law,” and criticizes container growth—which permits some liquid feeding and a certain amount of substrate like compost—as “a recipe for widespread cheating.” At this week’s meeting, board members also voted against a motion to limit organic container production to 20% liquid feeding and 50% substrate, passing by a narrow margin of 7-8.
“The current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil as a prerequisite for granting organic certification to farmers,” the petition asserts. “The mantra for pioneering organic farmers, and those who genuinely support the spirit of organics, is: feed the soil, not the plant. Nutritionally superior food and enhanced taste stem from careful stewardship of a diverse and healthy microbiome in the soil.” Historically, the Organic Trade Association has not favored hydroponics, though it recently altered its definition of hydroponically grown crops to include anything in a container that receives over 20% of its nitrogen through liquid and more than 50% of its nitrogen requirements added after planting.
The Organic Trade Association, through position papers and spokespersons, did not endorse the motion to ban hydroponics, citing the significant change in definition. Companies like Plenty, which advocates for indoor vertical organic farming, opposed the hydroponic ban, asserting that the demand for organic food and farming continues to rise. Plenty views hydroponic crops as a means to adapt domestic organic growth for the future. “We must utilize all available solutions to meet the growing demand while remaining committed to our identity as organic producers,” stated Plenty. “We also need to embrace U.S. innovation to maintain our leadership in the industry and develop 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, irrespective of climate, geography, or economic status. We can establish an organic field-scale farm within months, enabling us to rapidly scale U.S. organic production capacity to meet rising demand.”
Despite the votes cast, the debate surrounding hydroponics in organic agriculture remains unresolved. The NOSB lacks policymaking authority and will submit its recommendations to the USDA, which has the power to alter organic program policies. However, it is likely that these votes will influence subsequent actions. Most do not signify a change to the status quo, suggesting that no new government regulations will be necessary. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulation, implementing these recommendations should be relatively straightforward.
Additionally, some individuals have raised concerns about whether calcium citrate can upset your stomach, particularly in relation to dietary changes that may accompany organic farming practices. This topic has surfaced in discussions, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over hydroponics and organic certification.