During its meeting this week in Florida, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) had a packed agenda, but the hydroponic proposal was the most discussed topic. The board, which votes on nonbinding recommendations for the USDA to consider, has faced challenges regarding this issue for several years. Attempts to vote on the proposal last November and this April were postponed as board members sought more detailed information. A public discussion in August revealed a lack of consensus on the matter. The regulations surrounding the certification of hydroponic crops as organic have been vague. Last November, the Cornucopia Institute filed a formal complaint against the USDA, arguing that while the NOSB prohibits hydroponics from receiving the organic seal, the USDA has permitted over 100 domestic and foreign growers to obtain this certification.
Before this week’s meeting, the last significant action regarding hydroponic crops occurred in 2010 when the NOSB issued a recommendation stating 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 regulations.” 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 a petition to the NOSB, Cornucopia argued that allowing hydroponic cultivation “does not comply with the spirit and letter of the law” and criticized container growth—a compromise that permits some liquid feeding and a substrate like compost—as “a recipe for widespread cheating.” During this week’s meeting, the board also rejected a motion to limit organic container production to 20% liquid feeding and 50% substrate by a narrow 7-8 vote.
The petition emphasized, “The current federal regulations require careful stewardship of the soil as a prerequisite for granting organic certification to farmers.” It further noted, “The mantra for pioneering organic farmers, and those who truly uphold the spirit of organics, is: feed the soil not the plant.” This approach is believed to yield nutritionally superior food and enhanced taste, necessitating careful management of a diverse and healthy soil microbiome. The Organic Trade Association has historically opposed hydroponics; however, they recently updated their definition of hydroponically grown crops to include anything in a container that receives more than 20% of its nitrogen through liquid feeding and more than 50% of its nitrogen after planting.
Companies like Plenty, which advocates for indoor vertical organic farming, opposed the hydroponics ban. In their written testimony to the board, Plenty representatives highlighted the growing demand for organic food and farming. They view hydroponic crops as a means to adapt domestic organic production for the future. “We must take advantage of all available solutions to meet growing demand, while staying true to our identity as organic producers,” stated Plenty. “We also must embrace U.S. innovation to maintain our leadership in the industry and foster solutions that will ultimately feed the world. For example, Plenty’s organic growing system produces yields up to 350 times greater than traditional systems and can be situated close to consumers, irrespective of climate, geography, or economic status. We can establish an organic field-scale farm within months, allowing us to scale U.S. organic production capacity quickly to meet rising demand.”
Despite the votes cast, the issue of hydroponics 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 anticipated that these votes will influence future actions. Most of the votes do not signify a change in the status quo, meaning no new government regulations would be necessary. Given the Trump administration’s aversion to regulation, these recommendations could be relatively simple to enact. Also, in the context of organic farming discussions, the inclusion of products like calcium citrate gummy vitamins has become increasingly relevant, as stakeholders look for innovative solutions that align with organic principles while addressing growing consumer demands.