Hi Roberto et al.,
Tuesday, April 18, 2000, 2:03:34 AM, you wrote:
RV> Do organic rules allow hydroponics (which I understand to mean
RV> growing plants without soil, on an artificial medium like water
RV> to which minerals and nutrients are added by the grower?
There are organic greenhouse operations but obviously, soil or
composted soil must be used as a growing medium. The possibility of
adding liquid components like organic teas &/or foliar sprays has
interested some proponents and plant diseases like those caused by
viruses are more easily controlled in an enclosed situation (aside
from the climatic element in locations where frost can be a problem,
in which case both an indoor winter crop and spring / summer / fall
outdoor crop are often grown).
Unanswered questions clearly remain here and the theme merits
further study, but obviously the concept of hydroponics does push
the conceptual & biological envelope somewhat - but then, that is
the role I see as natural for the human element, along with defining
the nature and appropriate biological limits of the endeavor. Both
agriculture and nutrition are clearly biological at base, and any
mechanism that strays far from recreating or recombining (but not in
totally novel ways) the discrete elements found within natural
evolutionary processes and necessary to the overall goal (produce
life giving substances), is running unwarranted and often
potentially grave risks.
The principle components of organic agriculture DO need to be
defined morte consistently, and OFPA should have been limited to
performing that task, rather than convert the USDA in an organic
police force. (Please understand that I applaud much - but not all -
of the work done by the USDA and those in it, but view with
skepticism , amusement - and even alarm, *some* of the official
statements and actions that emanate from it).
Douglas
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