USDA Urban Agriculture Hydroponic Organic Tabletop Strawberry Project

A team of UF/IFAS, FAMU, and UGA scientists are engaged in cutting edge research analyzing various strawberry cultivars grown in a tabletop hydroponic organic system under a high tunnel. The innovative aspects of this project include the urban context, including research and on-farm trials, testing various recycled growing media to increase resource circularity, and demonstrating how organic nutrition is delivered in a hydroponic tabletop system.

Hydroponic organic is an interesting subject that draws a variety of opinions, which makes it a wonderful topic for UF/IFAS Research and Extension! Please join us at our outreach events so you can learn more aspects of horticultural science for yourself.

Please share this event with your stakeholders and students!

EVENT 1

WHAT: Hydroponic Organic Tabletop Strawberry Research Field Day

WHEN: Thursday, February 13, 2025, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

WHERE: UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, FL at 2556 W. Hwy. 318, Citra, FL 32113

COST: $10

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://strawberryproject.eventbrite.com

DESCRIPTION: This event will present an overview of the project, information about hydroponic and USDA organic production, methods, a research farm tour, among other aspects of the project. This event will be both in the classroom and outdoors at the research plots, so dress appropriately! Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

EVENT 2

WHAT: Hydroponic Organic Tabletop Strawberry On-Farm Workshop

WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

WHERE: EverOak Farm, 2335 Carrington Dr, Orlando, FL 32807

COST: $10

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://strawberryonfarm.eventbrite.com

DESCRIPTION: This on-farm event will focus on connecting urban agriculture research to the community. A project overview, horticulture of strawberries, and presentation of productions strategies will be presented. Then, real-world farmer feedback will be shared regarding efficacy, insights, and scalability. Next, the event will explore opportunities for local strawberries including value-added products. Finally, feedback and discussion can propagate synergy around strawberries! Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

This project is led by Dr. Xin Zhao as part of the USDA Urban Agriculture Project and is supported by many expert collaborators, biologists, students, Extension, and a farmer. Farmer Mike Garcia of EverOak Farm is serious about building soil, and his real-world farmer feedback enhances UF/IFAS Research and Extension.

A bit about hydroponic and organic

Horticulture is both the art and science of growing plants, and following that potential, the possibilities for growing plants are truly endless. Topiaries, for example, are a high maintenance practice that grows living statues and is far from practical, and beyond delightful. When it comes to agricultural production of food and other raw materials, what is practical, economical, and safe generally drives the food system. While American grocery stores have remained well stocked and consumers well fed, rising populations and limited resources continue to push for innovation in agricultural production practices. Both hydroponic and organic agriculture employ different approaches with some shared benefits, and other opposing differences.

Pros, cons, and considerations about hydroponic and organic agriculture circulate around fertilizer, pest control, and plastic. Proximity to consumers and water use efficiency are also important parts of the conversation.

So let’s keep it conversational, not argumentative. Let’s remain rooted in respect and curiosity. Finally, let’s get excited about cutting edge Research and Extension at UF/IFAS!

Hydroponic agriculture is capable of growing higher yields using less space with efficient water and fertilizer use. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil in either a nutrient solution or in growing media. The benefits are that hydroponic systems are separate from the soil, which has certain pest management benefits, and that fertility and irrigation are optimized for efficiency. Sometimes, hydroponic systems are grown under a structure, such as a high tunnel or greenhouse, for an added layer of pest prevention and season extension. Hydroponic systems are often manufactured and reliant on non-renewable inputs like plastic. It can be done almost anywhere anytime, including in urban areas that are closer to the consumer offering flavorful foods at peak freshness.

Organic agriculture is a growing strategy that is rooted in renewable resources that enhances environmental sustainability and biodiversity with a strong focus on soil health and resource circularity. There are organic values, and then there is the USDA Organic certification program. Technically speaking, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has standards for what products can receive a USDA Organic label. Here is how the USDA defines “organic”:

Organic is a label that indicates that a food or agricultural product has been produced according to the USDA organic standards, which require operations to use practices that cycle resources, conserve biodiversity, and preserve ecological balance.

The USDA Organic program requires application, inspection, and certification for farms selling over $5000 in produce being labelled “organic.” Minimum standards must be met, and facilities through each step of the food system must also have organic certifications, such as packing houses. Producers that can check the boxes, pay the fees, and pass the inspections can get the USDA Organic seal, and consumers can purchase food with a level of integrity. Organic production usually takes up a bit more space to achieve the comparable yields to conventional agriculture, since some of the crop goes to the pests that cannot be controlled with conventional chemicals. While small organic gardens could certainly transform the food system if they dominated most backyards, the truth is that most people do not garden, so the space required for producing organic farms is usually a little bit farther away from the urban center.

Both organic and hydroponic production systems are innovative and solving challenges in the food system. It seems like hydroponic and organic should play nice together, but no one told nitrogen.

Currently, in January 2025, a hydroponic operation that checks off all the boxes required by the USDA National Organic Program can be certified USDA Organic, and technically speaking, that includes hydroponic operations. This is a hot tater! This very subject has been debated many times by the most passionate and knowledgeable horticulturists.

True organic farmers tend to take issue with the reliance of hydroponics on non-renewable resources, like plastics, and focus their energy in building soil through the cycling of organic matter.

Hydroponics enthusiasts promote the resource, space, and labor efficiency of this production method.

All of these opinions and observations are warranted! Ultimately, there is a valuable place in the food system for all forms of food production to feed almost 10 billion people of varying cultures, regions, and socio-economic status.

Even if layers of controversy are removed, the chemical compatibility of hydroponic and organic is complicated. In nature, nitrogen gas likes to hang out (bond) with another nitrogen gas in the form of N2. It is hard to separate that N2 bond, but lightning energy or microbes can break it down into plant available form. Humans figured out how to manufacture it in an energy intensive process that more or less replicates lightning (Haber-Bosch), which supplies much of our nitrate fertilizers for modern agriculture. Plants generally prefer the nitrate (NO3-) form of nitrogen. Maximally efficient hydroponic systems use this manufactured form of nitrogen so the nitrogen conversion process does not inhibit nutrient availability and uptake; it goes right into the root. Organic agriculture gets nitrate from the conversion of organic carbon that is broken down by nitrogen fixing soil microbes so then nitrate can be used by the plant. The microbial conversion of nitrogen to nitrate cannot occur in anaerobic, flooded conditions, which are more likely to create the ammonium (NH4+) form of nitrogen. Hydroponics, being essentially flooded, can inhibit this organic nitrogen conversion to nitrate. Water and nutrient balance is key, and nutrient origins for organic certification matters.

Another important layer of nutrient uptake is the pH, acidity or alkalinity, of the soil or nutrient solution. In hydroponics, pH can be easily adjusted. In soil, pH management is more nuanced and challenging to adjust quickly. Some of the more available organic nutrition, such as composted poultry litter, tend to increase soil pH, while composted pine needles, oak leaves, and peat moss tend to decrease the pH. Organic farmers need to be mini soil scientists and waste managers with a thorough understanding of the soil, water, and nutrient dynamics, which only comes with practice over time.

Next, there is the issue of non-renewable resources and heavy reliance on plastics in hydroponic systems. These are fair issues and there is room for more innovation in this space. The plastics in hydroponics serve a purpose, but society generally agrees that excessive use of plastic should be avoided.

Hydroponic media also has benefits and limitations. Rockwool maintains a superb balance of water and air, but is single use, pricey, and not certifiable for organics! Peat moss can be certified organic, but mining it from ancient bogs is far from sustainable. Perlite comes from a natural inorganic substance, superheated obsidian, that can be certified organic but it does not break down. While there are other types of hydroponic growing media, those listed outline common products, uses, and issues.

UF/IFAS Researchers that see advantages of both hydroponic systems and organic production pondered, “What if there are other types of renewable substances that can be used for hydroponic growing media that can also be USDA Certified Organic?”

Dr. Xin Zhao, Professor of Horticultural Science at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) leads organic research projects that answer tough questions that hopefully lead to new solutions. Typically, her research is rooted in the field and under high tunnels. Recent interest in urban agriculture resulted in USDA Urban Agriculture Grants, which provided the perfect opportunity to ask tough questions and put them into research at the university and on the farm.

Coming full circle, this USDA Urban Agriculture Project is analyzing various strawberry cultivars grown in different recycled or composted growing media under high tunnels receiving organic fertigation.

Of course it gets more complicated than this overview! If you enjoy diving deeper and a touch of data, consider going to school for this! Check out local programs at Valencia College and the University of Florida College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) where you might be able to work in Dr. Zhao’s lab!

Whether you find the subject curious or controversial, come learn more about UF/IFAS Research and Extension projects so you can come to your own conclusions empowered by information!

Hydroponics

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Hydroponic Vegetable Production

Hydroponic Organic Tabletop Strawberry Project–Events in Orlando & Citra!

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