If you are looking to have your aquaponics farm have an organic certification, what plastic liner should you use?
Let's start by examining what it means to be, "Organically Certified". Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, retailers, etc. The organic certification verifies that regardless of where your farm or handling facility is located in the WORLD, your operation complies with the USDA organic regulation.
If you plan on going for Organic Certification, you have a detailed road ahead of you. Sometimes it takes trial and error, and this could be very costly in the scope of things. When dealing with organic certification, it is our belief to ask for permission on the material you plan on using. Yes it is important to do all of your homework and be prepared and educated on the process. But sometimes things will fall in to “gray” areas, in these cases, it is best to reach out to the organizations that certify and tell them exactly what you are doing. Things to remember when you do this.
Show the data sheets to your certifying body and tell them exactly what you wish to do.
- Get it in writing
- Have them sign off
- Make friends
- Ask about pitfalls and valleys that they may see coming
By being straightforward with them, they will soon realize that you are trying to comply with all and any regulation. Truth and approval PRIOR to installation is the key. If they know you are trying to be perfect they will be happy to help you. It is there job to maintain the quality levels and they want to do a good job. Just ask them for help and they will almost always help you.
