Organic board: aeroponics out, hydroponics, aquaponics in

By a vote of 8 to 7, the National Organic Standards Board on Nov. 1 rejected proposals to make hydroponic and aquaponic production methods prohibited under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.The board did vote to make aeroponics a prohibited practice by a vote of 14 in favor of the ban, with one member abstaining. That won’t have an impact on organic supply, Frankel said, as he understands there are no aeroponic operations currently certified as organic. Several firms researching aeroponic technology for organic production were waiting on the NOSB vote before attempting to become certified as organic, he said. “It is highly unlikely that people will continue to spend any more time, money or effort to figure out how to make those systems organic.