The USDA released a report July 21 submitted to the Agricultural Marketing Service National Organics Standard Board regarding whether or not products cultivated via hydroponic or aquaponic farming qualify as organic.
According to the National Organics Standards Board Hydroponic and Aquaponic Task Force, both hydroponic and aquaponic farming should not qualify as organic because they do not improve soil quality, which is a mainstay of organic farming.. Read more here.