According to the new Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/848, which will come into force in January 2022, aquaponic products cannot be certified as organic in the European Union. Given the numerous components of an aquaponic system, which include growing plants under hydroponic conditions, recycling fish waste, and raising fish under artificial conditions, obtaining organic certification for aquaponic products is a complex matter governed by many parameters.

Although aquaponics meets almost all the principles of organic farming in theory and practice, regulations such as the requirement to grow plants in soil and the ban on the use of recirculating systems in aquaculture currently prevent organic certification of aquaponics products.

This study examines these provisions in the new Horticulture and Aquaculture Regulation. The rules are evaluated, their basis discussed and suggestions are made for system changes that could make it possible for aquaponic products to be certified organic. Proposed changes include the use of soil in the hydroponic sector and the introduction of environmental enrichments to improve fish welfare in the aquaculture sector. Several EU policies and strategies supporting the development of aquaponics are also discussed and possible strategies for the development of organic aquaponics are formulated. Read more here:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/raq.12539

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ID:  508