Hi Roberto, Douglas,
Dutch Organic Ass. does not allow hydroponics. I do not know the IFOAM rules
on this.
regards
wytze
Douglas Hinds wrote:
> 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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