Hydroponic Production the Same as Organic? Support Is Growing For It
Last week, Greenhouse Grower reported on the ongoing debate over whether hydroponic production should be considered organic. As part of this discussion, the Coalition for Sustainable Organics (CSO) recently joined with the Aquaponics Association, Western Growers, International Fresh Produce Association, Mulch & Soil Council, and The Scotts Company to file an amicus (friend of the court) brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The amicus brief asks the Court to affirm last year’s decision by Judge Richard Seeborg of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California that determined that the USDA’s “ongoing certification of hydroponic systems that comply with all applicable regulations is firmly planted in OFPA [Organic Foods Production Act].” Judge Seeborg’s March 19, 2021, ruling upheld USDA’s long-standing policy to allow growers using hydroponic methods to be eligible for USDA Organic Certification.
“Our membership works hard every day to make organics more accessible to more consumers, while upholding the principle of continuous improvement to make organic production more environmentally sustainable,” says Lee Frankel, Executive Director of the CSO. “Our brief is designed to complement the sound legal arguments made by the Department of Justice on behalf of USDA.”
In its brief to the Ninth Circuit, the Department of Justice explained how currently certified hydroponic production operations meet the requirements of the laws and regulations governing USDA organic certification.
For more, continue reading at GreenhouseGrower.com.
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