NOSB postpones vote on hydroponics debate

The National Organic Standards Board meeting in Denver last week did not come with a verdict if hydroponic, aquaponic and other container grown crops can retain their organic certification. During the three day meeting, both supporters and opponents of the hydroponic container organic growing methods tried to convince and explain to the NOSB members their definition of organic. It is expected that the board will vote on the issue in the fall meeting, and more possibly, the vote will be postponed to next season.

Hydroponic farming methods have been eligible for USDA organic certification for 15 years. Lee Frankel, executive director for the Coalition on Sustainable Organics, told The Packer that in the U.S. marketplace, 30% of the offered organic tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers, come from container and hydroponic systems. “Changes in policies will cause severe disruptions in the marketplace. It’s a complicated subject, and we hope members of NOSB take their work seriously and come up with clear reasoning", Frankel said.

Marianne Cufone, a hydroponic advocate who serves as executive director at the Recirculating Farms Coalition, told FoodNavigator-USA that “There was a lot of admitted confusion by the board” about hydroponic and aquaponics, as well as “vastly differing sets of opinions on this from the public, from the board, from farmers – and so it seemed like [NOSB] wants to take more time to consider the issue, try to get the definitions [of hydroponic and aquaponic] clearer and have a better understanding of how hydroponics and aquaponics work.

Source: The Packer, FoodNavigator-USA