Essentially, Chapman said, a hydroponic grower levels their parcel of land, sprays it with herbicide to keep the weeds down, spreads plastic over the field, then places pots or builds a greenhouse over the plastic. Soon after, the operation is allegedly certified as organic.
www.civileats.com/2019/04/23/can-hydroponic-farmers-spray-glyphosate-just-before-becoming-organic/