"Why I support organic certification for soil-free farmers"

It’s hard to get a count of how many hydroponic or aquaponic farms are currently certified organic in the U.S. ATTRA claims that there are around 17 certified organic hydroponic or aquaponic facilities, while other sources say the number is higher. You can find one of them in the heart of Berkeley.

The reason many choose to pursue organic certification is to help the consumer understand how the crops were grown. The label communicates that the crops were grown with all organic “ingredients” and without harmful chemicals. The consumer is willing to pay a little bit more for these crops, and the prices help support the organic farmer.

With the upcoming recommendations from the National Organics Standards Board, current and future hydroponic and aquaponic farmers may lose the chance to participate in the USDA Certified Organic label.

"We at Upstart U think this would be a mistake," writes Jason Arnold. "As members of the greenhouse and hydroponic farming community, we want you to have the facts. We believe that certain forms of hydroponic and container based agriculture are able to meet a widely recognized definition of organic, and that the consumer will benefit from having these crops available in their communities."

Read more at Upstart University