Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

can somebody tell me if aquaponics can be certified as organic?
does anybody know of any organic certified aquaponics farms?
greetings
frank

Hi Frank, Welcome!
I expect that each country is going to have different regulations as to what can be certified organic. Fish are tricky in the US to my knowledge, and no one on the forum has even managed to locate an organic source of fish food unless you produce your own. Even the plants grown in a AP system could be tricky. One of our members in California (West Coast of USA) was investigating getting his basil certified organic, and was concerned because the fish poo is not composted, but is raw. Organic methods here require that all manures be composted. All rather funny because of course we have to be very organic in caring for an AP system or we kill the fish or bacteria that we rely so heavily on. The best thing we could figure out would be to have the system bacteria analyzed to show that there was no e. coli or other harmful bacteria, and to control all inputs to the system to assure no dangerous bacteria or non-organic material was introduced. However...

In the US, small farmers can simply declare that what they grow is organic without getting certification. It is only after they reach a certain size that they must go through the (expensive) organic certification process. That is the route that I believe Mike Ferrini (our California member with the basil) was going to follow up on, and it may be a route to explore in Belgium, too.

JP, Does size matter? I have never come across that in my readings.
Its my understanding Frank, (the rules, inspection check list) has yet to be written for an Organic AP system. Without a set of guidelines its more of a hit and miss with an inspecting offical. They could take what is applicable from the organic green house or crop rules and negate the fish portion or make their own interperatation. It maybe a good project to write your own guidelines using the applicable ones available to et the ball rolling. Call on a certified inspecting agency and see what experience they may have in the area.
I think it will be up to the driving force of the AP industry to get a set of standards written. Better to dictate to Govenment then waiting on it to set the standards?

Hi GotFish,
OK, I mis-spoke a bit. Size doesn't matter as far as who MUST be certified, but it does matter as far as who is willing to go through the hassle of certification. A small farm would probably not bother, just because of the limited market they are trying to reach, whereas a larger one that would like to expand may well do it to open up additional markets.

A farm can use organic practices without being certified organic. If they are not certified, they certainly can't put the official 'Certified Organic' label on their food, but small farmers have the opportunity to talk to their buyers at the farmer's market or roadside stand and tell them that they use organic methods. A small farmer might opt for 'Certified Naturally Grown'.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_ce ... rm_organic

Hey Frank! Good to see more people from Europe on here.

May I ask why you're interested in aquaponics; are you planning on setting up an aquaponic farm?

No problem JP, I got to keep the spoon so I'm happy!

Glad to hear the spoon makes you happy, John. It's the little things in life that make the difference.

Hi Janet,
thanks for your answer

In Europe the words "Eco, Bio, Organic" are all protected and can only be used if certified.
Seems to me the biofilter action can be considered as a form of composting.

hydroponics seem to be a "four letter word" in receiving certification, allthough hydroponics is certifiable for herbs. see swedeponic.com.
http://www.santamariaworld.com/europe/index.jsp
click on concepts, then on organic

I would be interested in contacting the basil grower to see if we can exchange ideas. can you give me his details?

greetings

Frank.

Hello Thomas,
Yes, I have some plans for an aquaponic farm.
do you have something going?
Frank

John,
as it seems that rules for organic fish farming are in the make in Europe and elsewhere, maybe we should try to centralise all information on the subject.
i.e. people who have gotten certification, or tried te get it, or failed to get it.
Better to try and write standards than to wait until they are imposed.

Frank

I'm just starting out small, in the garden, but I've always dreamt of running an AP farm! (Well, not always.. Only been here for half a year )

There are already a few AP farms, I believe they grow mostly lettuce and basil. Maybe you can contact them?

I'm curious, what sort of fish would you grow commercially?

I'm thinking of Pike, Carp and Perch
Frank

Hi Frank,
The member growing basil is Mike Ferinni. Here is his Profile.

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... file&u=240

If you PM (Private Message) to him, I'm sure he'll respond. Use the button marked "PM" on his profile page. At the moment, I can't remember where he discussed his marketting efforts.

Frank, here's a list of links that show there is "some" level of certification for some products, but still questions being asked.

Interesting link (Janet) about "Organic Talapia" and a link to what is claimed to be Australiasia's only certified aquaculture operation in NZ....

http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sace ... ction.html

http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbto ... d%20Salmon

http://www.bim.ie/templates/text_conten ... ode_id=957

http://www.aquaculture.co.il/Technology ... lapia.html

http://www.clearwatercrayfish.co.nz/koura.html#3

Good work Rup.
Cheers!!