Certification is an important factor for any food production method. Aquaponics, which combines aquaculture (raising fish and other aquatic creatures in tanks or ponds) with hydroponics (growing plants in water), has been growing in popularity because of its sustainable production methods. While aquaponics can be certified organic, it is not typically the focus of the certification process. There are several reasons for this. Aquaponics does not use soil as the medium for plant growth, which means that wastewater from fish farming is used as the primary source of nutrients for plants. This type of agriculture does not typically produce large amounts of soil amendments or pesticides, making it a good option for organic growers who are concerned about environmental impact.