To allow hydroponic (soilless) growing to be considered organic completely defeats the very basis for organic farming which is the soil itself. Allowing this corruption of organics, despite the fact that most other nations have refused to allow "hydroponic organic", is a travesty that the USDA should be ashamed of. Shame on you if you succumb to the pre$$ure of corporate farms at the cost of small and true organic farmers. Show that you can do what's right rather than what's politically expedient.
J
Julia Helen Tracy
9 years ago
Hydroponics. should not be included in the labeling of soil-based certified organic foods. They need their own designation, perhaps something like "Hydrofoods". Depending on how they are produced, they could have labels such as "No Pesticides Used" or "Produced Using the Fewest Resources Possible" or "Conventional". But for oganic foods, SOIL is the Bottom LIne - literally!
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Food should not be grown in water with synthetics. Keep organic in the worm filled dirt. Thank you.
S
Sigrid Asmus
9 years ago
We can't afford to go on throwing away our soil or weakening the organic standards I depend on for the food I buy. I demand that the USDA keep its Organic Growing in the Soil certification. Soil with plenty of organic material is more productive, healthier, and also supports birds and countless valuable soil organisms.
L
Linelle Russ
9 years ago
Featured
As a horticulturist, I am keenly aware of the benefits of growing in soil. Not only do hydroponics require much more input, making them more expensive and less eco-friendly, they do not have the same nutritional value as vegetables grown in soil.
D
Dr Jana Bogs
9 years ago
In my research and work as a crop consultant I see greater food nutrient density in plants grown in soil versus those grown in watery systems. Food should contain the nutrients we need to keep us healthy.
B
Broehe Karpenko
9 years ago
Soil, soil, soil. We need proper soil stewardship for a proper, cohesive, healthy food system.
L
Lydia Olchoff
9 years ago
The spirit and intention of organic standards is to grow food in soil using natural fertilizers (compost).
A
Amanda Karim
9 years ago
The spiritual foundation of organics is care of the soil. Hydroponics does not enrich soil and thus has no place in organics.
J
Jeanmarie Todd
9 years ago
If you want to grow hydroponically, then don't hide behind the organics label. Hydroponics is not green, much less organic. Organics is rooted, literally and figuratively, in the soil. Building and protecting healthy soil, adding organic matter and mulching it, and fostering biology in the soil, is key to healthy crops and sustainable food production. Buying plastic barrels of chemicals to feed your plants under artificial lighting has nothing to do with organic farming!
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
thank you for your efforts!
K
kathy getchell
9 years ago
We need to keep ORGANIC in the soil, no hydroponics certified as organic.
R
Richard Schneller
9 years ago
I hope we never have to experience a growing scarcity of the basic infrastructure of agriculture... good healthy living soil!
R
Richard Auler
9 years ago
Hydroponics has NOTHING to do with organics. Please follow the European stance on this. We don't even discuss this method.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Organic foods must be grown in soil that meets organic standards.
S
Stephen Barrow
9 years ago
Organic production is based on and in the soil, where the Creator placed it. PERIOD! I have over 20 years of experience in the South African Organic Sector. During this time I have been an internationally accredited organic inspector working with EU, NOP, COR, JAS, Bio Suisse, Demeter, Naturland, IFOAM, Australian organic regulations / standards, as well as an auditor for an international organic accreditation organisation. I have served on IFOAM's Standaeds Committee for 8 years. KEEP SOIL IN ORGANIC. PERIOD.
T
Terry Durham
9 years ago
Organic farmer for 40 years
S
Stephen Wangen
9 years ago
Hydroponics is based on man-made components. It doesn't even qualify as natural, much less organic. Please exclude hydroponics from organic certification.
Dr. Stephen Wangen
E
Emma Strevey
9 years ago
Preserve biodiversity, keep the soil organic!
E
Edward J Brown
9 years ago
I agree with Mr. Riddle's assessment of the term "Organic Hydroponics"
it is illegal. As Vice President of Pilgrim Market, I watch over the integrity of the organic rule, and encourage the NOSB to forever forbid "hydroponics agriculture" to be included in the NOP.
Thank you for your consideration
Edward J Brown
VP. - Pilgrims Natural Market
CdA, Idaho
To allow hydroponic (soilless) growing to be considered organic completely defeats the very basis for organic farming which is the soil itself. Allowing this corruption of organics, despite the fact that most other nations have refused to allow "hydroponic organic", is a travesty that the USDA should be ashamed of. Shame on you if you succumb to the pre$$ure of corporate farms at the cost of small and true organic farmers. Show that you can do what's right rather than what's politically expedient.
Hydroponics. should not be included in the labeling of soil-based certified organic foods. They need their own designation, perhaps something like "Hydrofoods". Depending on how they are produced, they could have labels such as "No Pesticides Used" or "Produced Using the Fewest Resources Possible" or "Conventional". But for oganic foods, SOIL is the Bottom LIne - literally!
Food should not be grown in water with synthetics. Keep organic in the worm filled dirt. Thank you.
We can't afford to go on throwing away our soil or weakening the organic standards I depend on for the food I buy. I demand that the USDA keep its Organic Growing in the Soil certification. Soil with plenty of organic material is more productive, healthier, and also supports birds and countless valuable soil organisms.
As a horticulturist, I am keenly aware of the benefits of growing in soil. Not only do hydroponics require much more input, making them more expensive and less eco-friendly, they do not have the same nutritional value as vegetables grown in soil.
In my research and work as a crop consultant I see greater food nutrient density in plants grown in soil versus those grown in watery systems. Food should contain the nutrients we need to keep us healthy.
Soil, soil, soil. We need proper soil stewardship for a proper, cohesive, healthy food system.
The spirit and intention of organic standards is to grow food in soil using natural fertilizers (compost).
The spiritual foundation of organics is care of the soil. Hydroponics does not enrich soil and thus has no place in organics.
If you want to grow hydroponically, then don't hide behind the organics label. Hydroponics is not green, much less organic. Organics is rooted, literally and figuratively, in the soil. Building and protecting healthy soil, adding organic matter and mulching it, and fostering biology in the soil, is key to healthy crops and sustainable food production. Buying plastic barrels of chemicals to feed your plants under artificial lighting has nothing to do with organic farming!
thank you for your efforts!
We need to keep ORGANIC in the soil, no hydroponics certified as organic.
I hope we never have to experience a growing scarcity of the basic infrastructure of agriculture... good healthy living soil!
Hydroponics has NOTHING to do with organics. Please follow the European stance on this. We don't even discuss this method.
Organic foods must be grown in soil that meets organic standards.
Organic production is based on and in the soil, where the Creator placed it. PERIOD! I have over 20 years of experience in the South African Organic Sector. During this time I have been an internationally accredited organic inspector working with EU, NOP, COR, JAS, Bio Suisse, Demeter, Naturland, IFOAM, Australian organic regulations / standards, as well as an auditor for an international organic accreditation organisation. I have served on IFOAM's Standaeds Committee for 8 years. KEEP SOIL IN ORGANIC. PERIOD.
Organic farmer for 40 years
Hydroponics is based on man-made components. It doesn't even qualify as natural, much less organic. Please exclude hydroponics from organic certification. Dr. Stephen Wangen
Preserve biodiversity, keep the soil organic!
I agree with Mr. Riddle's assessment of the term "Organic Hydroponics" it is illegal. As Vice President of Pilgrim Market, I watch over the integrity of the organic rule, and encourage the NOSB to forever forbid "hydroponics agriculture" to be included in the NOP. Thank you for your consideration Edward J Brown VP. - Pilgrims Natural Market CdA, Idaho