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VIDEO: Aquaponics Greenhouse Fueled By Renewable Energies
This is the Ekoponics system. The aquaponics greenhouse is built with an Ekodome Cosmos geodesic dome frame system, while the renewable energy station is made with an Ekodome Seed dome frame
This is the Ekoponics system. The aquaponics greenhouse is built with an Ekodome Cosmos geodesic dome frame system, while the renewable energy station is made with an Ekodome Seed dome frame.
Solar panels and vertical wind turbine-powered pumps provide energy to the system to recycle water and nutrients in a closed-loop system that provides productive and sustainable food production. It is still developing, but continuous R&D in aquaponics will help sustain healthy food production.
For more information:
Ekodome
www.ekodome.com
11 Aug 2021
High Hopes For Aquaponics System Inspired By Sewage Treatment
“Our work shows that this type of cultivation is not only more sustainable, but it is also capable of providing nutrients in a form that is easily accessible to plants
by The Fish Site
30 June 2021
A novel water purification system inspired by sewage plants has been shown to be effective at optimizing fish waste for use as fertilizer for plants in aquaponics facilities.
In a recent study, researchers demonstrated that the system could improve nutrient remineralization for the plants, while removing excess nitrogen and carbon from the system, creating a healthier environment for fish.
The study, published in Frontiers in Plant Science, was undertaken by researchers from the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Gothenburg and involved the production of rainbow trout and lettuce.
As lead author, Victor Lobanov explained to Frontiers Science News: “Fish sludge is a waste product made up of uneaten food and fish feces and is normally broken down by bacteria in the water. In addition to physically harming fish gills, excess carbon in the solids leads to excessive bacterial growth – diminishing oxygen in the water and hampering the ability of the fish to breathe. We wanted to find out whether this waste could be used to fertilize plants in aquaponics systems by removing the excessive carbon, yet preserving the minerals needed for growing crops.”
The researchers investigated a potential solution inspired by sewage and wastewater treatment plants found around the world, called enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). They adapted it so that the risk of bacteria build-up in the water was reduced, but the minerals from the fish waste were soluble in the water and could therefore be biologically available for plants to take up.
They found that their solid treatment system was as effective at delivering nutrients from the fish waste to the aquaponic system as a commercial nutrient solution. Although the fertilizer did not meet plant needs entirely, as some nutrients such as manganese were missing, the researchers hope to optimize this system in future studies.
“Hopefully we can scale the system more efficiently in the future, not just for lettuce as used in this study but as well as for other plants, with the right number of fish corresponding to the size of the system. By further optimizing the breakdown of fish solids by the solid treatment system, we can also achieve a faster treatment rate and make the whole process more efficient,” explained Lobanov.
Commercial fertilizer solutions often have very high levels of nitrogen, stimulating crops to swell and absorb large amounts of water and giving the appearance of improved growth but often decreasing the amounts of minerals in the plant. Despite the fertilizer created by the solids treatment system containing lower levels of nitrogen than commercially available chemical fertilizers, plants were not nutrient deficient. This suggests that the high nitrogen levels commonly used are in excess of what the plants need. The authors hope that this finding will stimulate further research into the connections between plant nutrients, health, and taste,
“Our work shows that this type of cultivation is not only more sustainable, but it is also capable of providing nutrients in a form that is easily accessible to plants. Farmers can take this system and optimize it for their specific crops and production volumes, potentially even supplementing with additional nutrients if required,” said Lobanov.
Lead photo: The aquaponics facility where the trial took place. © Victor Lobanov
Aquaponic Springworks Farm Expands With 26-Year-Old CEO
“I became interested in sustainable agriculture after seeing the impacts of agriculture in the ecosystems around me,” he said. “There was this visceral impact for me. A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to see some of the negative consequences of agriculture and the way that we eat.”
By AMY SOWDER
June 25, 2021
How A Teen-Now 26-Scaled Up His Aquaponics Firm, Springworks
Trevor Kenkel was 13 when the fish and frogs dying from nutrient pollution in his favorite creek by his Montana home motivated him to experiment with aquaponics.
His teenaged tinkering in the garage led to founding Springworks Farm in 2014, while he was a freshman at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, studying biology.
“I became interested in sustainable agriculture after seeing the impacts of agriculture in the ecosystems around me,” he said. “There was this visceral impact for me. A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to see some of the negative consequences of agriculture and the way that we eat.”
Today, Springworks is headquartered in Lisbon, Maine, and counts 200 Hannaford stores, Whole Foods distribution centers, restaurants, and other companies as customers of its leafy greens.
And on June 19, Kenkel, Springworks CEO and president, sliced the grand-opening ribbon with golden scissors on his third greenhouse, totaling about 45,000 square feet of commercial production using the aquaponic farming technique in which fish and plants support each other’s growth in a closed system.
His sister, Sierra Kenkel, was by his side as vice president of the company.
At their company, the nutrient-rich water from raising tilapia is pumped into growing beds, which feeds the leafy greens. The plants, in turn, clean the water and return it to the fish. No chemicals are needed.
“We’re taking what would otherwise be a waste stream and turning it into a positive, as fertilizer,” Kenkel said.
From the start, Springworks greens were U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic, but the products were replacing conventional greens at local restaurants.
“We had to be at a competitive price point, and we also had to be able to articulate what our value proposition was: better shelf life, better quality,” he said. “We’re not relying on the USDA-certified organic label to add value, so much as our product being better than what our customer was buying.”
By 2026, the Kenkels want half a million square feet of aquaponic greenhouse operations on the Lisbon site.
“We’re able to produce a little under a million heads of lettuce a year, and we’ll be a little more than doubling that with the new facility,” Kenkel said the day before the grand opening of the third greenhouse.
Knowing that a mistake on a large scale is much more expensive, Kenkel started small and progressively expanded. At each step, he dealt with the new challenges associated with the scale and made improvements.
“We’ve been very intentional over the years at scaling up as we feel comfortable managing that size system, with where the technology is at and with our customer base,” he said.
The first few years, Kenkel and his team focused on water quality, fertigation, how to link the systems and updating infrastructure.
The product line is growing too, as the emphasis has transitioned toward more retail.
Springworks is the exclusive provider of organic green leaf lettuce to 200 Hannaford locations, which also carry the organic bibb lettuce and organic romaine pouch, the first three products launched for retail customers.
“Springworks checks every box when it comes to our lettuce supply needs and Zero Food Waste goals,” Hannaford produce category manager Mark Jewell said in a news release. “We also are impressed by their consistent quality and ingenuity. These factors, combined with their exceptional food safety practices, year-round availability and proximity to our distribution centers, made it an easy decision.”
Trevor Kenkel of Springworks Farm (left) with Mike Vail of Hannaford. (Photos and illustration courtesy Springworks Farm)
The aquaponics company has expanded to offer single-cut products for more convenience.
“They cut them once at the base and package them in a clamshell. You can pull out those leaves individually and make a salad with them, make a wrap,” Kenkel said.
Springworks also makes a salad mix.
“Consumers who value quality and transparency are asking supermarkets for organic products from local food producers,” said Sierra Kenkel, who handles sales and marketing as vice president for Springworks.
Kenkel’s goal is to be competitive with the product coming from the Southwest and to eventually replace it for his East Coast customers.
During the supply chain issues early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Springworks was able to fill the orders for regional customers that normally sourced from California, Arizona or Mexico.
Within the next decade or so, Kenkel sees a shift in the leafy greens industry from 95% centralized production in the Southwest to a more regionalized approach.
The product is naturally fresher when it’s grown near shoppers.
“Both in terms of the carbon footprint and the economics of it, this is a win-win,” Kenkel said. “Pricing will continue to get more competitive.
“And I think all of that is going to lead to that 95% number ending up a lot lower than that in the next decade or so, as more of these hubs of production start to develop closer to where the product is consumed.”
And what about those fish?
They sell the tilapia at a local fish market in Portland, Maine.
“With this process, you get a lot more volume in greens than you do fish,” he said.
15 Best Plants For Aquaponics
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (raising aquatic animals) and hydroponics (using nutrients and water rather than soil to cultivate plants). It typically requires less water, less energy, and less labor than traditional farming
May 28, 2021
When it comes to growing plants, aquaponics is one of the most sustainable food production systems around. Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (raising aquatic animals) and hydroponics (using nutrients and water rather than soil to cultivate plants). It typically requires less water, less energy, and less labor than traditional farming,
Definition:
What Is an Aquaponics System?
An aquaponic system uses the nutrient-rich water from fish tanks as a natural fertilizer for plants. The plants, in turn, help purify the water for the fish habitat, mimicking nature’s ecological process found in lakes, rivers, and other waterways.
Both the water and nutrients in an aquaponic system are recycled in a closed-loop manner, oftentimes while being more productive than conventional soil farming.
Warm freshwater fish are known to benefit leafy crops the best, while other plants adapt better depending on the size or type of aquaponic system and the amount of sunlight available. Many aquaponic growers use freshwater tilapia fish in their tanks, although catfish, trout, bass, crustaceans like crayfish, and even saltwater fish can be used.
Both the fish and plants you choose for your aquaponic system should have similar temperature and pH needs, and while most commercial growers tend to lean toward leafy crops like lettuce and herbs, it is also possible to grow more exotic fruits and veggies like bananas and pomegranates.
Whether you’re growing on a large scale or just starting a new hobby at home, here are 15 of the best plants for aquaponics.
Lettuce
Leafy lettuce is probably the most commonly grown aquaponic plant, mainly because it is also the simplest and the most productive. The nutrient demand is low, while the pH requirement is between 6.0 and 6.2, and the temperature should be between 60 F and 70 F. Lettuce also has a shorter growing cycle and loves the sunlight, so it is ideal for outdoor aquaponic growing systems. Maintenance is typically limited to checking the pH level once a week, and you can harvest your lettuce in as little as a month’s time.
Kale
Kale plants grow so well in aquaponic systems that they can easily get out of hand if not harvested regularly. Also, kale can handle a slightly higher pH and temperature limit with a lower nutrient requirement than lettuce, and can be planted directly in sunlight outdoors as long as the temperature stays within 55 F to 70 F (it prefers temperatures on the cooler side, however). The plants do well in most aquaponic systems, but are partial to gravel growing media. After about five to six weeks, aquaponic kale is ready to eat.
Spinach
Low nutrient requirements and a wider margin for error in terms of pH makes spinach another amazing leafy green to plant in an aquaponic garden. The green superfood plant likes temperatures between 45 F to 75 F, but too much sun outdoors can cause bolting and a subsequent bitter taste in the crop. Since it has shorter roots, spinach doesn’t need a deep growing bed in order to thrive, making it ideal for nutrient film technique aquaponics and raft systems.
Tomatoes
Although tomatoes require a higher amount of nutrients, they can handle warmer temperatures (up to 85 F) and grow wonderfully in water. Because they are high nutrient plants, tomatoes are best reserved for larger systems with more time to establish themselves. Just like tomatoes grown in traditional gardens, aquaponic tomatoes will likely need a support structure to handle their tall growth—up to 6 feet for some plants. The best options for these plants are fish that like warmer water, such as tilapia, koi, and goldfish
Watercress
Usually the biggest problem with aquaponic watercress is how fast it grows and multiplies. One small plant quickly turns into many more and before you know it, you have way more watercress than you need. Plus, if it isn’t harvested regularly enough it can easily clog your grow bed, creating issues for the rest of your system. Watercress can even be cultivated circularly, as it is easy to grow from cuttings and from seeds, meaning you can produce it continually and for little to no additional cost.
Radish
From white daikon to classic red, radishes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow via aquaponics. Those who grow them regularly swear by using wood fibers to help sprout the seeds, but clay and pumice are also good growing mediums for radishes. They prefer cooler temperatures as low as 60 F but up to 80 F, and pH levels between 6.0 to 7.0, so common tilapia and koi are often used.
Carrots
Carrots need a lot of sunlight to thrive, though they prefer cooler temperatures between 59 F and 65 F. These veggies are considered difficult to grow, but all it takes is a correctly set up aquaponics system with a fine, pH neutral growing medium and at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. A media bed aquaponics system is best for carrots as they do not do well in other methods, and they can be harvested from seeds in two to three month’s time.
Strawberries
Strawberries are best grown using a vertical aquaponics system since they multiply quickly and require very little space. The only catch is, since most aquaponic strawberry plants only produce a few individual fruits, it is wise to plant as many as possible and give them plenty of space if you want to create a large yield. They require medium to high amounts of nutrients and prefer a ph between 5.5 and 6.5, with a temperature between 60 F to 80 F. Unlike leafy greens, strawberries require more potassium, so most growers will add them into their aquaponic systems after they’ve already become more established.
Basil
This herb’s natural ability to tolerate high heat and moisture makes it one of the best plants to include in an aquaponic system. It grows fast and can germinate in under a week, with plants ready to harvest and eat within just 25 days. Basil has low nutrient requirements and a temperature preference between 65 F and 85 F. Just like traditional soil-growing basil, it's important to remove flowers as they form in order to increase yield, and be sure to harvest it sparingly to lengthen its life.
Mint
No matter which variety of mint you choose to grow, they are almost sure to flourish in an aquaponics system. This isn’t always a good thing, as mint grows so fast that it runs the risk of overwhelming the entire growing system and keeping the rest of the plants from growing.
If you do choose to plant mint, keep plants 18 to 24 inches apart so the roots don’t compete over precious water and nutrients. Mint also requires partial shading, temperatures from 65 F to 70 F, and pH between 6.5 and 7.0.
Cucumber
As lovers of warm weather, cucumbers grow best in an area with plenty of access to sunlight and humidity (artificial lights if growing indoors). Keep a close eye on their complex roots to ensure they don’t clog up the piping within the aquaponic system, and keep plants between 11 and 23 inches apart so they don’t hoard nitrogen from the rest of your plants.
Cauliflower
Thanks to cauliflower’s natural hardiness, it requires little maintenance and will thrive in a water-based aquaponics system. Since it is also extremely resistant to pests and disease, it is another one of the best aquaponic veggies for beginners. Keep your cauliflower out of direct sunlight, and especially frost, if growing outside; it can also thrive in a greenhouse.
Cabbage
Westend61 - Michael Bader / Getty Images
Another easy plant to grow in aquaponics, cabbage does best with a pH of 6.2 to 6.6 and in temperatures between 45 F and 75 F. Cabbage seedlings should be kept warmer than a crop that has already matured, but otherwise, these vegetables require little maintenance outside of watching for the regular pests and rot. Harvest aquaponic cabbage after nine weeks. Since they are rather nutrient hungry, you’ll want to monitor them for nitrate levels, and consider a nutrient film technique system because of their shallow roots.
Sunflowers
Goroda / Getty Images
Aquaponics isn’t just for fruits and vegetables, but for flowers and ornamental plants as well. Under the right conditions, sunflowers can go from seed to 4 or 5 feet tall with an aquaponic system and will do well in both a greenhouse and outdoors in a warm climate. They can be grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides and are both edible and aesthetically pleasing.
Peppers
Kwangmoozaa / Getty Images
Opt for pH-neutral growing media like shale or clay pebbles to support your aquaponic pepper plants from seed to maturity, and remember that they grow best with their roots in water that is between 60 F and 75 F. However, hot peppers like cayenne or habanero will likely be more tolerant to warmer temperatures. They also prefer moderately acidic levels between 5.5 and 6.5, so they work with multiple fish options (even smaller fish like tetras thrive alongside pepper plants).
How UAE Produce Is Taking Over The Dining Table: 'We Are Growing All This On Our Doorstep'
Local farms are reporting a rise in demand, while Atlantis, The Palm resort has introduced an initiative to put UAE produce on its restaurants' tables
Local farms are reporting a rise in demand, while Atlantis, The Palm resort has introduced an initiative to put UAE produce on its restaurants' tables
Oasis Greens is a hydroponic farm located in the Jebel Ali free Zone. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National unless otherwise mentioned
The concept of a “farm tour” is not what it once was.
Instead of the smell of open mud and fertilizer that I used to equate with a farm, I’m standing inside a pristine, temperature-controlled room that contains rows of herbs and leafy greens stretching out to the ceiling.
I am at Oasis Greens, one of many hydroponic, vertical farms to have cropped up in Dubai over the past few years. In this high-tech environment, seeds are planted into foam, which is placed in a solution that provides plants with all the nutrients they need, while LED lights overhead mimic the rays of the run.
The process involves no messy soil or pests and, by default, no need for pesticides either, while 90 percent less water is used than required by traditional farms. The result is sustainably grown, organic and local produce – from varieties of lettuce (be it butterheads and icebergs) to kale, rocket, and bok choy.
Why buy UAE-grown fruits and veggies?
Oasis Green hydroponic farm, located in Jebel Ali Free Zone. Antonie Robertson / The National
Whether it’s a hydroponic or traditional farm, there are indisputable benefits of opting for local over imported produce, which is being noticed by both consumers and big brands.
Among the latter is Atlantis, The Palm, which has launched a sustainability initiative titled the Atlantis Atlas Project.
One of the cornerstones of this campaign is a pledge to give diners access to dishes that are made with locally sourced and organic ingredients, grown and harvested in the UAE. Kelly Timmins, director of conservation, education and corporate social responsibility at the hotel, says the reason for this is two-fold.
“One of the key focuses for Atlantis is to look at increasing our use of local suppliers and vendors as part of our commitment to drive the whole local economy."
She says using local produce is better for the environment as it reduces freight and the carbon footprint involved with bringing in goods from across the world.
Plants are grown in foam rather than soil in hydroponic farms like Oasis Greens. Antonie Robertson / The National
“We are trying to see how we can source perishable products responsibly. Sustainability is a journey and to get there we need the involvement of our community,” she explains.
To procure fresh ingredients on a daily basis, Atlantis, The Palm has teamed up with Fresh on Table, which works as a facilitator between UAE farms and consumers. The company, which launched in Dubai in 2019, takes orders from hotels, stores and customers online, and co-ordinates with farms to ensure that the product is harvested, packaged and delivered the next day.
According to commercial manager Garima Gambhir, the company has grown month-on-month, and currently works with more than 1,000 farms, as well as big hotel groups.
Home-grown company Fresh on Table supplies products from farms to consumers. Supplied
“Chefs realise that local produce is just fresher and going to last longer on the shelf, as opposed to something that has, say, been imported from [the Netherlands] and passed through three days of transit before reaching the kitchen,” she says.
The pandemic has also had an invariable role to play in the rising demand for local produce.
“When borders and hotels started closing last year, the supply food chain was disrupted. With distributors unable to fulfil contracts from international suppliers, we were able to pitch in because everything was local, reliable, and could be picked up from a farm and delivered in a few hours,” says Gambhir.
Oasis Greens currently grows varieties of lettuce, leafy greens and microgreens. Antonie Robertson / The National
Local farms have also witnessed a spike in demand over the past year. Nikita Patel, founder of Oasis Greens, says despite the pandemic, business has been good, with a notable rise in online orders.
“Everyone has been at home, cooking. And even though we didn’t have a lot of tourists come in, residents weren’t leaving, either,” she says.
“I think the pandemic made people realise that food security isn’t a theoretical thing. In a lot of countries, people were having issues with grocery items running out, but the UAE did a very good job ensuring that didn’t happen. Over the past year, more companies are looking inwards and seeing how they can source local. We are just riding the wave.”
Hydroponic farms in the UAE
At UNS Hydroponic, custom LED lights mimic the rays of the sun, helping plants grow. Antonie Robertson / The National
Oasis Greens grows approximately 12 to 15 types of herbs and leafy greens, and has started cultivating microgreens. “The aim is to get into fruits and vegetables, too,” says Patel. “We want to grow cherry tomatoes, chillies and more.”
Within the industrial area of Al Quoz, meanwhile, grows one of the largest, most lush indoor vertical farms in the region. UNS Farms is home to 16 varieties of leafy greens and 16 varieties of micro greens across a space of 5,600 square metres.
During a tour, executive director Mehlam Murtaza asks us to dip our feet in a solution to ensure we don’t track any crop-destroying bacteria or germs inside, before explaining how different elements can affect the growth of plants.
“Our LED lights are a custom design with a special spectrum. Each colour actually has a different effect on the crop – they can widen the leaf size, make them longer or have another indirect effect,” he says.
The nutritional value of the plant remains unchanged, though, with a lot depending on the quality of the seeds used. The seed also plays a role in the taste – at USN Farms, I’m given two types of basil leaves, Thai and Italian. Despite the fact that both varieties are grown in the UAE, the Italian version is subtle in taste and smell, while the Thai is sharper.
UNS Farms in Al Quoz is spread over 5,600 square metres. Antonie Robertson / The National
“We have just scratched the surface about what we can do,” says Murtaza. In the future, research and development may be able to further tweak the taste of plants, he adds. "Who knows what's next? Maybe cotton-candy-flavoured herbs."
With a number of perks of buying local, it does beg the question: why haven’t hotels been doing this all along?
Murtaza says it’s only in the past couple of years that vertical farms have developed to deal with the volume they need. Even then, the maintenance and power required to run hydroponic farms means only certain crops can be grown at financially feasible rates.
Locally 'farmed' seafood in the UAE
Fish Farm in Jebel Ali grows organic and regular salmon, sea bass, sea bream, yellow tail kingfish and hammour. Antonie Robertson / The National
Supporting local goes beyond leafy greens. While the UAE is blessed with an abundance of seafood, there is still a reliance on imports.
That's something home-grown company Fish Farm is aiming to change. Launched in 2013, the company identified the most in-demand fish species being imported and sought to change this by growing them within the country. It currently produces organic and regular salmon, sea bass, sea bream, yellowtail kingfish, and hammour.
“It’s all part of building our food security,” says chief executive Bader bin Mubarak. “At the moment, less than 10 percent of the fish is locally acquired. We want to be able to cover the entire UAE market.”
The company plans on doing this with the help of three facilities: a caged farming facility in Dibba, a hatchery in Umm Al Quwain, and a land farming facility in Jebel Ali.
At the facility in Jebel Ali, Mubarak explains how juveniles and eggs were first sourced from different parts of the globe to ensure the right genetics.
“But since then, we have been hatching our own fish eggs,” he says. The Fish Farm was the first establishment in the world to grow Atlantic salmon on land, from eggs, Mubarak says.
Fish Farm has recreated ideal marine conditions for various species of fish. Antonie Robertson / The National
Business development manager Edmund Broad agrees that it is all about growing and harvesting seafood in the most sustainable manner possible.
“One of the biggest problems with the seafood industry is the pressure it puts on wild fish stocks, through commercial hunting using huge nets. We are a substitute for this. By growing fish on land in a controlled and secure environment, we are not taking anything from the sea. We’re leaving the oceans alone.”
The farm has recreated the ideal environments required by fish, many of which stem from cold-water countries, such as Scotland and Iceland. The fish swim in an area with appropriate salinity, currents, temperature, pH level, and even lighting.
“We’ve recreated the ideal marine conditions suitable to each species: the Atlantic for the salmon, the Pacific for the yellowtail kingfish, the Gulf for the hammour and the Mediterranean for the sea bass,” explains Broad.
The farm currently produces 3,000 metric tonnes of fish per year. “By 2030, we want 50 per cent of seafood consumed to be produced within the country,” says Broad.
From farm to table
UAE residents can get a taste of these sustainable and local ingredients in some of the best restaurants in the country. Thanks to its sustainability pledge, nine of Atlantis, The Palm's signature restaurants are serving dishes with ingredients grown and harvested in Dubai.
Locally hand picked mushrooms, pecorino and truffle at Bread Street Kitchen. Courtesy Atlantis, The Palm
Guests can tuck into locally produced burrata from Bread Street Kitchen or an organic salmon carpaccio from Seafire Steakhouse. Hakkasan is offering dim sum with locally handpicked chestnut mushrooms while Nobu has a crispy hand-picked shiitake mushroom truffle salad.
Ronda Locatelli, The Shore, Wavehouse, and White Restaurant are some other restaurants offering dishes with sustainable ingredients.
Seven-day dry-aged organic Atlantic salmon, grown in the UAE, is available at Seafire Steakhouse. Courtesy Atlantis, The Palm
Raymond Wong, chef de cuisine at Seafire Steakhouse, says the difference between imported and local ingredients is staggering.
“As a chef, an import order is always challenging as you need to place it three to four days in advance for your produce to come in time. But with this initiative, we can order just a day in advance from sustainable farms in Dubai and the produce is as fresh as it can be.”
He hopes this will encourage other restaurants and hotels to follow suit. “I think it will bring a lot of awareness. A lot of people don’t even know we are growing all this on our doorstep.”
June 13, 2021 07:48 AM
USA - WISCONSIN: Valor Aquaponic Coming To Hartford Public Market
“They are a commercial aquaponics farm using non-GMO seeds and rainbow trout and koi to grow all natural vegetables,” according to the Hartford Public Market’s post
Daily News Staff
May 26, 2021
Patrick Hansen is bringing Pewaukee-based Valor Aquaponics to the Hartford Public Market.
Submitted photo
HARTFORD — Valor Aquaponics, out of Pewaukee, is the most recent vendor announced as coming to the new Hartford Public Market this summer.
Valor Aquaponics provides basil, microgreens, and other vegetable products grown on its urban aquaponics farm setup, according to a Facebook post from the Hartford Public Market. According to Valor’s own Facebook page, Valor is certified USDA organic.
“They are a commercial aquaponics farm using non-GMO seeds and rainbow trout and koi to grow all natural vegetables,” according to the Hartford Public Market’s post.
“From organic microgreens to organic basal, Patrick (Hansen) will be bringing in some great options into our refrigerator space. We are really looking forward to offering this product in our market!” it continued.
Aquaponics is a system in which fish and produce are farmed together. The water and waste from the fish is processed to be used as fertilizer for the plants, and the plants in turn filter and oxygenate the water for the fish.
Information on Valor Aquaponics’ website stated that aquaponics systems use 95 percent less water than conventional farming, one-third the energy of other farming systems and because of aquaponics using controlled systems indoors, it does not require pesticides or other harmful chemicals to maintain.
Valor began in 2019 when Patrick Hansen built his first home aquaponics system from seeds and blue tilapia. The business’s indoor farm in Waukesha opened in August of last year.
Ally and Steve Kenitz, husband and wife, are currently working on the space for their new business, the Hartford Public Market at 102 N. Main St. Ally Kenitz said they do not have a hard timeline yet, but they are hoping to have the space completed and open by this August.
Once open, Ally said, the Hartford Public Market will host items from dozens of vendors — they have more than 20 lined up already, and are hoping to have 100 by the time opening day comes.
Aquaponics Is Complex: ‘It’s Everything, Anything You Can Really Think Of’
The needs of the fish, bacteria, and plants must be addressed to get and maintain conditions for success
The needs of the fish, bacteria, and plants must be addressed to get and maintain conditions for success.
May 16, 2021
Unlike other agricultural techniques that focus on a single product, aquaponics growers must consider both the fish and the plants when altering the conditions of the system.
Aquaponic systems are often described as their own ecosystems. Everything from the types of organisms in the system to the bacteria breaking down waste impact the productivity and success of the system.
Fish meal is the major source of nutrients in the entire system. What the fish are fed, and how much, plays a role in determining which nutrients will be available for the plants further down the line.
“(The fish meal) will break down into the fundamental components of the fertilizer, which will then be broken down further by beneficial bacteria in the system,” says Trevor Kenkel, owner of Springworks aquaponics farm in Lisbon. “It will go on to then generate the major macronutrients for the plants, but also the micronutrients as well.”
Kenkel said they also monitor the amount of food they feed the fish to prevent excess nutrients in the system.
“The amount of nutrients that are thrown off out of a system is really significant, and it’s so concentrated,” he said. “If we weren’t running a system to capture this afterward, you would either be dumping those into a local ecosystem, or you’d have to find some other way to treat them, which can be very expensive.”
Managing the greenhouse environment can also be difficult, particularly in Maine. Growing produce in the summer and winter is very different, Kenkel said.
Springworks’ greenhouses have lights that supplement the sun on cloudy, gray days. Additionally, a system helps control the temperature within the greenhouses.
Paul Brown, a professor at Purdue University who studies aquaponics, said many factors are involved. For instance, different types of fish provide different kinds of nutrients, and different plants require more of some nutrients than others.
Even the kinds of microorganisms breaking waste down into fertilizer play a part in this complex system. At times, Brown said, it can become necessary to add additional nutrients to make up for deficiencies in the system. The acidity and salinity of the water can also be major factors.
Springworks has plants growing to maturity constantly, allowing Kenkel and his team to measure different qualities and environmental factors: the location in the greenhouse the plant grew in, the density of the leaves, and the effects of different temperatures, for example.
“It’s everything, anything you can really think of,” said Kenkel, who studied plant physiology at Bowdoin College.
USA: CONNECTICUT - Killingly High School Breaks Down How Adding A ‘Hydroponics’ And ‘Aquaponics’ Class Encourages Sustainability
Beth Knowlton is a plant science teacher at Killingly and has been for about fifteen years. She tells News 8 hydroponics is a fairly new career in the AG industry, “The future holds us growing plants in warehouse buildings and things in inner cities so we can provide a local food source.”
May 6, 2021
KILLINGLY, Conn. (WTNH) — At Killingly High School over the past few years, they’ve truly enhanced their Agriculture Education Program. They’ve added a hydroponics and aquaponics class to help encourage sustainability.
Beth Knowlton is a plant science teacher at Killingly and has been for about fifteen years. She tells News 8 hydroponics is a fairly new career in the AG industry, “The future holds us growing plants in warehouse buildings and things in inner cities so we can provide a local food source.”
It’s a unique way of agriculture, that relies solely on the light and water in the greenhouse, using no soil at all.
They grow everything from cucumbers to tomatoes and kale.
They’re hoping to add to their hydroponics greenhouse, a misting system. They’ll be able to plant strawberries and have their roots continually misted from the inside, helping them grow.
Just down the hall, Courtney Cardinal teaches her aquaponics students the ways to use fish waste to grow plants.
The setup for aquaponics is a little different, plants grow in gravel beds connected to a water source that comes from pools full of tilapia. As the gravel beds fill and drain, the nutrients are brought to the roots of the plants.
They use hundreds of tilapia fish to water the plants. Cardinal says, “One input of the fish food is actually growing two products. So we’re growing both the fish, the filets of the fish, and then the waste is being reused to grow plants.”
The major nutrient the plants need is Nitrogen, and they get that from the fish waste. Non-traditional but efficient ways to grow food and adjust to the advancing industry.
Plans For Aquaponics Project In Belgian Port of Ostend
Columbi Salmon aims to harvest 12,000 tonnes of salmon and 4,000 tonnes of salad leaves a year by 2025
Columbi Salmon aims to harvest 12,000 tonnes of salmon and 4,000 tonnes of salad leaves a year by 2025, at a site in the Belgian port of Ostend. Kolbjørn Giskeødegård, CFO of the startup, explains their unique production system, why he thinks the time is right for growing salmon in RAS, and what persuaded him to swap finance for farming.
“For many years working for Nordea was the best job in the world – I had a great degree of freedom in my role and it was very exciting. I could probably have worked there until retirement, but had got to the point where I had seen most of the issues – the sector reports and updates started to feel like they were going in a circle,” explains Giskeødegård, who was the Norwegian bank’s chief seafood analyst for 25 years.
However, amidst the increasingly familiar cyclical trends of the conventional salmon farming sector there was one part of the industry which began to catch his attention.
“In the last two of three years, land-based salmon farming was emerging as the most exciting and disruptive part of the sector. I’d talked to many of the players about their plans and roles and licences,” he reflects.
The combination of the entrepreneurial spirit of the RAS pioneers and the development of disruptive new technologies that were needed to enable these systems to produce market-sized salmon appealed to Giskeødegård – and there was one company that stood out.
“It was a group of people I really believed in, including former colleagues – four from finance and four with a deep knowledge of fish farming,” he explains.
Read the complete article at www.thefishsite.com.
Publication date: Fri 30 Apr 2021
US: June 27, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM - Symbiotic Aquaponic: Modoc Nation To Host Virtual Aquaponics Course
The workshop will teach the science and business basics of aquaponics. This class is offered in partnership with the Modoc Nation and the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF). Twenty-three scholarships will be available to members of any Native American tribes
Symbiotic Aquaponic and the Modoc Nation will host a one-day, online Introduction to Aquaponics course on June 27. The course is open to the public.
The workshop will teach the science and business basics of aquaponics. During the class practitioners and experts will discuss topics such as the different types of aquaponics systems, fish and plant species selection, water testing, system maintenance, and more.
This class is offered in partnership with the Modoc Nation and the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF). Twenty-three scholarships will be available to members of any Native American tribe.
“We’re offering this class with the Modoc Nation for the first time,” Symbiotic CEO and co-owner Kaben Smallwood said, “We’re hoping this will benefit Native American entrepreneurs as well as the Miami community.”
The Modoc Nation installed its first aquaponics system this year. Called the Maklaks Farm, or “the people’s farm” in Modoc, this system will grow produce and fish for tribal members as well as the tribe’s restaurant, The Stables.
“We are thrilled to be able to be able to expand our agricultural services program and teach a new set of skills to our younger generation of Native farmers,” said Modoc Nation Council Member Tyler Scifers. “The Maklaks Farm, not only enables us to continue our well-established ranching tradition, it also empowers our members to grow in the area of climate-controlled agriculture, an opportunity we have not had previously.”
Registration includes course materials. The early-bird price for general members of the community is $35 per seat with special group rates for groups of four or more. Due to digital capacity and to ensure high-quality interaction the workshop is limited to the first 50 participants.
The class will be conducted online via video conference from 9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Registration for the event is open to the public and available online at www.symbioticaquaponic.com. For more information please contact aquaponics@modocnation.com or call 913-735-6618.
30 Apr 2021
Aquaponics AI Releases New Video Series ‘People of Aquaponics’ Connecting With The Movers and Shakers of The Aquaponic and Aquaculture Industry.
The People of Aquaponics series is highlighting the movers and shakers in the industry
Aquaponics AI is a social-impact aquaponic technology company powering the heroes of next-gen aquaponic food production. Their recently released video series, People of Aquaponics, aims to validate the rapidly growing aquaponic community by connecting with awesome people, doing amazing things globally with aquaponics and aquaculture.
“I’m personally inspired by the aquaponic community. You are a unique group of people with an underlying vibe for social impact and caring for people and the planet. Of course, aquaponics is an impactful avenue, but the people behind all of this, that’s who I’m excited to connect with and share with the community through this series “said Daniel Robards, co-founder, and CBDO.
The People of Aquaponics series is highlighting such movers and shakers in the industry. Some interviews so far include a professor who was trialing aquaponics 40 years ago, a researcher discussing her work with microorganisms and bacterial communities, as well as a business training persons with disabilities within their, grow space; that happens to be hosted in a brewery.
Jump in and watch the series on Aquaponics AI’s Youtube page!
About Aquaponics AI
Aquaponics AI is the leading provider of cloud-based aquaponics software. A data and intelligence-driven approach to growing with Aquaponics enable small and large farms to simplify data, understand their system and become better growers. With Aquaponics AI, growers can leverage key data insights to increase overall success and impact. For more information visit aquaponics.ai or email connect@aquaponics.ai.
Aquaponics In The Heart of Zurich
Umami creates microgreens in the city centre
They produce greens, but they travel to work by streetcar and don't need to put on weatherproof clothing. That's because Umami employees will harvest vegetables and herbs already in the early growth stages, as so-called microgreens. And they do so in a largely self-built facility, on the 4th floor of an office building in Zurich's Kreis 4 district.
Full-time producers instead of restaurant operators
In the beginning, the three friends Manuel Vock, Robin Bertschinger and Denis Weinberg wanted to open a restaurant. They wanted to produce half of the products themselves. At the same time, Manuel Vock was researching aquaponics systems for his bachelor's thesis. He introduced the principle to his friends, and the team began building a prototype set-up in a former archive in 2016.
That was the end of their restaurant plan and at the same time the beginning of completely self-produced food. The guys grew several varieties of microgreens and sold them to restaurateurs who were excited to have a regional product. "Up to that point, microgreens from the Netherlands were the only alternative," says Luca Grandjean, who joined the team of Umamigos (as Umami employees call themselves) in 2019.
The aquapinic facility / Image: Umami
Microgreens
Microgreens, unlike sprouts, grow on a substrate or in soil, require light and nutrients, and are consumed without roots. They are vegetables or spice plants that are harvested immediately after their cotyledons develop. As a result, microgreens contain a high concentration of vitamins and trace elements. The small plants are used as nutritional supplements and can add sweetness and spice to different dishes.
Fish excrement as fertilizer
Regionality is not the only plus of the little plants. Umami grows the microgreens in a cycle based on nature; the only input is fish feed. But even this is actually food waste and, additionally, insects that Umami produces via scraps.
African cichlids (tilapias) and other fish species swim in various tanks, and their excretions enrich the water with nitrogen and other micronutrients. The enriched water flows into the system to the tray on which the microgreens thrive.
These are sown on a hemp-based substrate and positioned in hard trays so that their roots can touch the water, absorbing the nutrients. The water, now purified by the plants, flows back to the fish, who recharge it. Thanks to this recirculation system, only about 1% of the water needs to be replaced with fresh drinking water each month. "That's about two bathtubs full of water. Just what is lost to evaporation," Grandjean says.
Aquaponics
Aquaponics refers to a process in food production that combines raising fish in aquaculture and cultivating crops in hydroponics. There are various combinations, such as the cultivation of tomatoes and the production of tilapias, as described in this article.
Not just fish and microgreens are part of the 'ecosystem', as the Umamigos like to call their jungle. Mussels, shrimp, snails, algae and many other plants also contribute to the Umami ecosystem. "We are copying nature. Yet we have learnt that the more players there are in the cycle, the better the system works," says Luca Grandjean. This might seem to be a contradiction, but he explains: "If there are just two actors in the system and something happens to one of them, the system is quickly unbalanced."
Nomen est omen
Their most important element, he says, is Zurich's tap water; it sets the pace. "We have no soil percolation, 95% less water loss than conventional agricultural systems," Grandjean says.
Environmentally-friendly production, free of chemicals, strikes a chord with consumers. Above all, however, the products have to taste right, says Luca Grandjean. It's no coincidence that the three friends named their startup Umami when they founded it in 2015. The Japanese word means tasty or spicy, and is one of the five basic tastes, alongside sweet, sour, bitter and salty.
"The glutamate found in meat, for example, tastes umami," Grandjean explains. He adds: "The microgreens are very palatable and don't contain glutamate, but our fish do." He is referring to the license to sell fish that the Umamigos recently obtained.
For more information: https://www.eat-umami.ch/
PHILIPPINES: Smart Farming In Metro 3rd
Cong. Kiko recently visited the demo farm developed by TUPV in Talisay City where Director Eric Malooy showcased a single mini farm-set-up using aquaponics technology with lettuce, pepper, tomatoes and tilapia ready for harvesting
Food security is among the priority development thrusts of Cong. Kiko Benitez for the Third District and the proposal of the Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas (TUPV) focusing on micro-farming through aquaponics offers positive potential for both urban and rural communities.
Cong. Kiko recently visited the demo farm developed by TUPV in Talisay City where Director Eric Malooy showcased a single mini farm-set-up using aquaponics technology with lettuce, pepper, tomatoes and tilapia ready for harvesting.
The project that will pool the efforts and resources of TUPV, the Congressional District Office, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation and IF Green Technologies targets the development of a sustainable business model for food security, increased production of healthy food choices, training of beneficiary communities on aquaponics technology assisted farming and financial literacy. Micro-financing for expansion plans and marketing support through an e-commerce platform for the produce is also a vital component of the project.
In the meeting with Cong. Kiko, Director Malooy and key TUPV representatives also introduced the solar powered water supply technology and disaster preparedness technologies – flood prediction, detection and monitoring through analytics, air quality monitoring, and data-driven disaster monitoring and response.*
VIDEO: Which Type of Hydroponic System Is Better?
I am fairly sure that my standard answer of, “it all depends” annoys most of the people I am speaking to. From suppliers to growers and from researchers to hobbyists there is always a desire to know and understand which system is the best
January 21, 2021, | Chris Higgins
Hint: They are all just irrigation systems.
One of the questions that I get most frequently is, “Which hydroponic system is the best?”
I am fairly sure that my standard answer of, “it all depends” annoys most of the people I am speaking to. From suppliers to growers and from researchers to hobbyists there is always a desire to know and understand which system is the best.
So why do I answer, “it all depends”?
Whether we are talking about nutrient film technique (NFT), deep water culture (DWC), drip irrigation systems, aeroponics systems, ebb and flow systems, or any other system we should agree that these are all just variations of irrigation systems.
Buffer capacity means security. Buffer capacity means you can leave for a day without fear of losing the crop.
Next let’s talk about the systems suppliers and their sales representatives. Suppliers of hydroponic systems will all tell you why theirs is better, but the conversation should really revolve around what factors cause their systems to fail. Every system has a weakness. Your crop, your budget, your facility and your geographic location will likely quickly highlight these weaknesses.
A large variety of hydroponic systems all at once – Big Tex Urban Farms
So, how do you determine what system is best for you?
Here are the things you should know, think about and research thoroughly before you invest.
What crop are you going to grow? If you are planning to grow tomatoes, it’s very unlikely that you will want to invest in a nft system or a dwc system. The needs of your crop will help direct you into the right direction. Likewise, a closed loop drip irrigation system is unlikely to be the answer for lettuce production.
Know your budget. Your budget will play a major role in this decision making process. Do not only think about the upfront costs of the system. Make sure to include the operational and labor costs associated with running the system 7 days a week 365 days per year.
Know your environment. Each crop type will respond to these 9 environmental variables (see diagram below) in different ways. As a grower your ability to manage these variables will be a primary indicator of your ability to achieve your target yields. The irrigation systems primary function is to help you control the 4 variables surrounding the root zone (see diagram below and focus on root zone temp, nutrients, water and oxygen.) Your geographic location and crop will determine which of these variables are most important.
Truly understand the design. In the recent Urban Ag News article, “Important Tips For Designing A Hydroponic Production Facility” I discussed the importance of buffer capacity. Buffer capacity in your irrigation system plays some very important roles. First, it will help you manage your nutrients. Second, it will help your crop deal with variations in temperature. Third and most importantly, it will be a primary indicator of how much time you can spend away from your farm.
Figure out your maintenance and spare parts plan. Irrigation systems break. Irrigation systems get clogged. Irrigation systems need to be serviced and fixed. Make sure you understand everything from how to access the most vulnerable and weak parts of the system to how long it will take you to get replacement parts and what parts you should plan to carry in case of an emergency. Think about redundancy!
Labor is KEY! Consider every aspect of labor. From the education requirements of running the labor, to the amount of labor needed to operate and maintain the system to the importance of labor needed on the system on a regular basis.
Budget • Scale • Access
Which brings me back to where we started. Which hydroponic system is the best? It truly all depends. All we know for sure is that if a supplier tells you, “you can grow every crop in our system”, be concerned. It might be true, but I can almost guarantee you that you cannot grow every crop profitably in their system. If a supplier struggles to help you clearly understand and answer the questions posed in this article, look for a new supplier. There are plenty that will.
Finally, focus on building a professional network with experience in the commercial hydroponics industries. Ask lots of questions and understand the full benefits and limitations of any system you choose.
Final hint: Aquaponics growers use one of these systems as well
Which Type Of Hydroponic System Is Better?
So why do I answer, “it all depends”?
Hint: They are all just irrigation systems.
One of the questions that I get most frequently is, “Which hydroponic system is the best?”
I am fairly sure that my standard answer of, “it all depends” annoys most of the people I am speaking to. From suppliers to growers and from researchers to hobbyists there is always a desire to know and understand which system is the best.
So why do I answer, “it all depends”?
Whether we are talking about nutrient film technique (NFT), deep water culture (DWC), drip irrigation systems, aeroponics systems, ebb and flow systems, or any other system we should agree that these are all just variations of irrigation systems.
Buffer capacity means security. Buffer capacity means you can leave for a day without fear of losing the crop.
Next let’s talk about the systems suppliers and their sales representatives. Suppliers of hydroponic systems will all tell you why theirs is better, but the conversation should really revolve around what factors cause their systems to fail. Every system has a weakness. Your crop, your budget, your facility and your geographic location will likely quickly highlight these weaknesses.
A large variety of hydroponic systems all at once – Big Tex Urban Farms
So, how do you determine what system is best for you?
Here are the things you should know, think about and research thoroughly before you invest.
What crop are you going to grow? If you are planning to grow tomatoes, it’s very unlikely that you will want to invest in a nft system or a dwc system. The needs of your crop will help direct you into the right direction. Likewise, a closed loop drip irrigation system is unlikely to be the answer for lettuce production.
Know your budget. Your budget will play a major role in this decision making process. Do not only think about the upfront costs of the system. Make sure to include the operational and labor costs associated with running the system 7 days a week 365 days per year.
Know your environment. Each crop type will respond to these 9 environmental variables (see diagram) in different ways. As a grower your ability to manage these variables will be a primary indicator of your ability to achieve your target yields. The irrigation systems primary function is to help you control the 4 variables surrounding the root zone (see diagram 0.0 to understand the variables.) Your geographic location and crop will determine which of these variables are most important.
Truly understand the design. In the recent Urban Ag News article, “Important Tips For Designing A Hydroponic Production Facility” I discussed the importance of buffer capacity. Buffer capacity in your irrigation system plays some very important roles. First, it will help you manage your nutrients. Second, it will help your crop deal with variations in temperature. Third and most importantly, it will be a primary indicator of how much time you can spend away from your farm.
Figure out your maintenance and spare parts plan. Irrigation systems break. Irrigation systems get clogged. Irrigation systems need to be serviced and fixed. Make sure you understand everything from how to access the most vulnerable and weak parts of the system to how long it will take you to get replacement parts and what parts you should plan to carry in case of an emergency. Think about redundancy!
Labor is KEY! Consider every aspect of labor. From the education requirements of running the labor, to the amount of labor needed to operate and maintain the system to the importance of labor needed to check on the system on a regular basis.
Budget • Scale • Access
Which brings me back to where we started. Which hydroponic system is the best? It truly all depends. All we know for sure is that if a supplier tells you, “you can grow every crop in our system”, be concerned. It might be true, but I can almost guarantee you that you cannot grow every crop profitably in their system. If a supplier struggles to help you clearly understand and answer the questions posed in this article, look for a new supplier. There are plenty that will.
Finally, focus on building a professional network with experience in the commercial hydroponics industries. Ask lots of questions and understand the full benefits and limitations of any system you choose.
Final hint: Aquaponics growers use one of these systems as well.
Agri Matters Podcast: Interview With AquaFarms Africa Co-Founder On Empowering Women With Aquaponics
In the latest episode of the Agri Matters Podcast, we spoke to Wiatta Thomas, co-founder of AquaFarms Africa, an agritech startup based in Conakry, Guinea
In the latest episode of the Agri Matters Podcast, we spoke to Wiatta Thomas, co-founder of AquaFarms Africa, an agritech startup based in Conakry, Guinea. She told us about implementing aquaponics technology, a combination of fish farming and soilless vegetable growing, in Africa.
In this ecosystem, the fish excrete waste that is converted by beneficial bacteria to nutrients for the plants, which purify the water in return.
"The focus of AquaFarms Africa was to locally produce fruits and vegetables that normally are imported because they're not able to be produced in Guinea," said Thomas. The produce would be sold to high-end restaurants and hotels that offer higher margins.
Aquaponics is also generally considered more efficient than conventional farming. It is more productive on a per square meter basis and requires 95% less water than traditional agriculture. It is also completely organic.
For the last nine years, Thomas has lived in Guinea and worked across West Africa in youth economic development, giving her a deep understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystems and promising agricultural value chains. She has also built a business incubator called Dare-to-Innovate. She actively promotes economic development and African diaspora investment in the continent, with agriculture being a priority sector.
To Listen To The Podcast, Please Click Here
Here are some of the highlights from the interview:
Pinduoduo: How did the idea of AquaFarms Africa come about?
Thomas: What I found is that it's very, very difficult on the continent for young people especially to start agribusinesses, for several reasons. One is that there's a lack of capital. So the idea was that rather than just start an aquaponics farm ourselves, what we would do is create or design a franchise system.
Pinduoduo: Why did you or your partner choose aquaponics?
Thomas: The main reason was that we needed a way to have a closed system that would allow us to control the temperature in order to produce some things that wouldn't normally grow in a tropical climate or very intense weather conditions. So aquaponics gave us a way to control the entire environment in which we're growing our produce.
(In the aquaponics system,) you can't put chemicals because it'll kill the fish. So automatically, you're going to have organic produce. And so it's really an all-natural system. We really wanted to recreate an environment inside of our greenhouses.
Pinduoduo: What kind of yield can we expect?
Thomas: One farm (12 by 12 foot) will produce somewhere around one ton of vegetable and fruit product that doesn't include fish product. We haven't included that yet in our total revenue system — it's more just to keep the system going. But we will be selling fruit shrimp and tilapia fish later on.
Pinduoduo: Do you work with local lending partners to provide loans to franchisees?
Thomas: Part of the loan system is provided by investments from the diaspora. Some of it is with partnerships with local banking systems that we've already started forging. So it's a combination of all of that. Because it's very, very hard for a young person to come off the bat and be able to get loans in Guinea.
Pinduoduo: What are the training and technical support provided?
Thomas: We are building an app that we haven't deployed yet. But in 2021, we're going to be deploying it that will allow our franchisees to be able to monitor their system so all of the indicators, such as the nutrient levels, or the temperature in the system, through IoT devices that will be placed in their systems, and will be able to monitor or to track growing schedules, harvesting and planting with an app.
Pinduoduo: Does this technology gives women more opportunities than traditional farming?
Thomas: It's actually more geared toward women. And the great thing is that because it's not as strenuous of work, and because it's in urban areas, we can give a lot more opportunities to women who are in urban areas and who are unemployed.
In case you missed our end-of-year newsletter, here's the link where you can find the best of Agri Matters podcasts of 2020.
Agri Matters is a podcast about cutting-edge technology and innovation in agriculture. From scientists, venture capitalists to startup founders, we talk to the people responsible for bringing food from farm to table. Subscribe to Agri Matters on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other major podcast platforms.
For more stories about the latest in agriculture and technology, visit us at https://stories.pinduoduo-global.com/category/agriculture. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
INDIA: This Goa Couple Grow Their Veggies & Fish Without Using Soil or Chemicals!
On 185 square meters of greenhouse and rooftop garden, in their house at Dona Paula, Panaji, they produce 120 kilograms of fish a year and grow 3,000 plants consisting of vegetables and fruits
AUTHOR: GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
December 1, 2020
Goa-based Peter Singh is 74-years-old, and his wife Neeno Kaur is 65. They are a power couple, setting an example of how to be self-reliant with food, and at the same time, converting biodegradable waste into something useful.
On 185 square meters of greenhouse and rooftop garden, in their house at Dona Paula, Panaji, they produce 120 kilograms of fish a year and grow 3,000 plants consisting of vegetables and fruits.
For the last four years, they have been practicing aquaponics at home, a combination of aquaculture (raising fish in tanks), with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water).
However, they do with a twist. “We do aquaponics with permaculture,” says Peter Singh, explaining his system to a bunch of enthusiasts earlier this year.
(L) Peter Singh in his air-conditioned greenhouse that has plants which require a cooler climate. (R) Ornamental fish are grown in a fish tank
He adds, “We compost our kitchen and garden waste and use it in our aquaponics. Plants are potted in a layer of gravel, 1/3rd of coco peat, and 2/3rd of compost. So, our plants get compost plus fish waste, which results in a higher yield. I don’t use any chemicals for this, and I am taking care of my waste and my food.”
One may wonder why they are doing it. For them, the answer is simple–they want to eat organic and be sure of how their food is grown.
Moreover, both have a background in agriculture.
“I was studying Mathematics at the Delhi University; the idea was to stay in Delhi, but then we thought of moving back to our farms in Jalandhar, Punjab. We worked on different forms of agriculture, in which different fruit and timber trees were planted, we did intercropping in the orchard of oilseeds and pulses, produced seeds for the national seed corporation, had a dairy farm, did beekeeping and even exported the honey,” explains Singh.
They moved to Goa seven years ago and found it difficult to source organic vegetables. The majority of the vegetables in the state come from the neighboring city of Belgaum in Karnataka. So, they decided to grow their food in this unique way.
“As we have limited space in Goa, we experimented and discovered aquaponics. We downloaded papers from universities, and read about it. And came up with this model,” says Singh.
They opine that they are still experimenting and bring in changes accordingly. As they have the technical know-how and a background in farming, they are quite confident of their system.
How this system works
Peter Singh explaining the model
This system of aquaponics which involves the fish tank, NFT pipes, (Nutrient Film Technique) which are used to grow vegetables, water-pumps, and artificial grow lights, may look complicated. But Singh makes it easier to understand. He has also made a model of this system that can fit in any balcony or even in any corner of the living room.
“This unit of 2 ft by 6 ft and 6 ft high, with artificial lighting of 200 watts uses 250 litres of water and can grow 180 plants. One can grow lettuce, kale, bok choy or any other vegetable. One fish tank can sustain five kilograms of fish mass so that you can have ten fresh-water fish of ½ kg each,” elaborates Singh.
The system works mainly on electricity, water, and fish waste.
Singh explains, “In a fish tank, the fish waste is mainly ammonia. In this system, aerators circulate the water and create a current. The fish waste settles at the bottom, and the pipes take this waste into the bio-filter, which breaks the ammonia into nitrates and nitrites for plants to use.”
The water gets further filtered and goes back to the fish. It also has aeroponic towers which work as the nursery of plants. It is also a space-saving system as it is vertical.
“Because of heavy nitrogen, green vegetables grow very well. We have lettuce, bok choy, and celery. Also, this system uses 10 percent of the water used in traditional soil-based farming, as water is constantly getting re-used. The only loss is in the evaporation. There’s no need of watering, no weeding, one only has to feed the fish twice a day,” says Neeno Kaur.
The entire system has three fish tanks on the ground floor. One is of 3,000 litres of water; second is 1,500 litres, and the third is 4,000 litres. They raise three types of fresh-water fish—rohu, catla, and chonak or sea bass. If one does not eat fish, Singh suggests using ornamental fish.
The rooftop garden
On their roof, they have a greenhouse of 12ft by 24ft, which has 2,000 plants. The greenhouse in the back garden is 6 ft by 16 ft and has 500 plants. A roof-top garden has 25 fruit trees, 300 onions, and an assortment of chillies, lemons, tomatoes, aloe, chives, creepers like ivy gourd, bottle gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd, ladyfinger, brinjal.
Along a boundary on the ground floor, they have mango, banana, and papaya. They also have an air-conditioned tunnel of 8 ft by 12 ft in their greenhouse, with 1,000 plants of lettuce, kale, bok choy, basil, parsley, cabbage, and broccoli. For the whole system, they spend around Rs 14,000 per month.
The aquaponics system doesn’t require cleaning of water as the water gets filtered in the process. And all the fittings are made by Singh himself. He has also part-time workers for about six hours a day. He adds, “We spend Rs 6,000 on electricity, Rs 4,000 on feeding the fish, and another Rs 4,000 on labour.”
They won the first prize for Most Innovative Stall at the Aqua Goa Mega Fish Festival 2020 held in February.
Agriculture expert from Goa, Miguel Braganza opines, “Peter Singh’s aquaponics is good for those who can afford it as the basic cost of the unit is Rs 30,000. Also, it is ideal for those who eat salads and continental cuisine.”
Regarding the cost, Singh states that it is high “because we pump water from the ground floor to the greenhouse on the roof. If it is on the same floor, this is much lower.”
They also have plans for solar panels and making fish feed at home to be self-sustainable. He adds, “If we automate the system, and put in solar power, then costing will go down substantially. We are also working on growing feed for fish. So our whole system becomes self-dependent.”
However, they are also trying to monetise from this system, by conducting two-day training programmes priced at Rs 5,000. Singh adds, “We also custom design and help set up aquaponics systems, of any scale, from small home systems to commercial systems, charging 10 per cent of the capital cost for the design.”
(L) Bok Choi grown in aeroponic towers. (R) Gourds grown on the roof.
Recently, they started selling these vegetables from their home. A basket contains two bunches of lettuce, a baby bok choy, three sticks of celery, sprigs of parsley, basil, and a small bunch of mint, priced at Rs 100. They will also add kale and Swiss chard to it. From next month, their air-conditioned model will produce about 300 packs of greens a month at Rs 120 each.
Singh and Kaur are hopeful that more people will learn from this system and eat healthy food as it is the need of the hour.
He concludes, “This method is independent of the weather, rain, hail, and sun; it is protected from predators and is the future of agriculture. It doesn’t need land, soil, or chemicals, and produces vegetables and fish wherever you are.”
Also Read: Experts Answer: Can a Hydroponics Farm Be a Good Business? Here’s How!
This shows that aquaponics could be next best thing in agriculture due to urbanisation and loss of agricultural land. It is estimated that the market of aquaponics will grow with the awareness to eat healthy food.
According to a report by Assocham and Ernst & Young, organic products market in India have been growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 25 percent, expected to touch ₹10,000-₹12,000 crore by 2020 from the current market size of ₹ 4,000 crore. As aquaponics is a part of the organic market, the future looks bright for this new-age form of agriculture.
During the current nationwide lockdown to tackle COVID-19, Peter Singh is selling their produce once a week from their home by maintaining social distancing. He says, “We slowed down the sale of our produce in the first week, and worked out a weekly production schedule, which includes a weekly harvest and transplantation. This means we will be able to supply every week all year round.”
Lead photo: Peter Singh is 74, and his wife Neeno Kaur is 65. Together, they grow 3,000 plants on just 185 sqm by a method that’s independent of the rain, hail, and sun!
(Written by Arti Das and Edited by Shruti Singhal)
Superior Fresh Announces New Salad Variety: Citrus Splash
“We have created a balanced organic ecosystem by raising the cleanest, healthiest Atlantic salmon using organic practices and principles and applying our proprietary organic farming methods to grow the best tasting organic salads and greens you have ever eaten
Superior Fresh is proud to unveil its newest salad blend: Citrus Splash. Filled with bright sunny citrus notes, this blend offers consumers a unique opportunity to expand their culinary experience. Citrus Splash brings more than exceptional flavor to the salad bowl. Paired with our non-GMO, organically fed Superior Fresh Atlantic salmon, the possibilities are endless.
“We have always been about doing things a little differently,” says Todd Linsky of Superior Fresh. “We have created a balanced organic ecosystem by raising the cleanest, healthiest Atlantic salmon using organic practices and principles and applying our proprietary organic farming methods to grow the best tasting organic salads and greens you have ever eaten. We do this while raising the bar on sustainability with practices that give us the ability to grow lettuce using less than one gallon of water. And what’s really impactful is we actually reuse 99% of all water.”
Todd goes on to say, “You do not choose organic aquaponics as a growing method by sticking to what is established. You do not commit to 800 acres of soil regeneration if you are doing it like everyone else. We are taking the responsibility of being one of the largest USDA certified organic salad operations very seriously. Our customers expect us to bring our best using thoughtful innovation – every time – whether that be in the way that we farm or with what we grow.”
Citrus Splash is sure to make a splash in the produce pool. Look for it on the shelves of your local grocery store and inquire directly for wholesale, retail, and food service options.
Mon 19 Oct 2020
INDIA: Aquaponics Unit Gets Off The Ground In Ludhiana Vet Varsity
The system was established by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali, under the collaborative project funded by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY), GOI
Was Inaugurated by Sanjay Dhotre,
Union Minister of State For Education,
Communication And Electronics And IT
CHANDIGARH
Oct 14, 2020, HT Correspondent
Hindustan Times, Ludhiana
The aquaponics unit in Ludhiana. (HT photo)
Sanjay Dhotre Union minister of state for education, communication and electronics and IT, on Wednesday virtually inaugurated an ‘Aquaponics vertical farming system’ developed at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).
The system was established by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali, under the collaborative project funded by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY), GOI.
Dhotre emphasized on the need to modernize food production sectors to double farmers’ income and enhance climate change resilience among the farming community.
He said that aquaponics is a promising technology for organic farming and there is a need to publicize such technologies for the wellbeing of the environment and humans.
Inderjeet Singh, the vice-chancellor of GADVASU, said that aquaponics involves a synergistic combination of aquaculture and hydroponics to promote vertical farming with enhanced nutrient utilization efficiency through recycling of water between the two components to produce fish and vegetables together.
He added that it offers potential future solutions to global warming, with only 10-12% water and land requirement compared to traditional fish and vegetable farming systems, fulfilling the concept of ‘More crop per drop’.The V-C said that the facility will help GADVASU take up required R&D for its optimized utilization under climatic conditions of the state, especially for stakeholders with small landholdings.
In the keynote address, Hemant Darbari, DG, C-DAC, said that the automated aquaponics system will serve as an excellent R&D and demonstration provision for skill development in aspiring stakeholders of the region to produce more food from less land.
Jyoti Arora, special secretary, MEITY, spoke on making the facility sustainable through innovative techniques to attract more youth into the technology-driven agriculture sector.
The project in charge, Jaspal Singh, joint director, C-DAC, and his team implemented the project at GADVASU with Meera D Ansal, dean, college of fisheries, and Kulbir Singh, principle olericulturist, PAU, under the leadership of JPS Gill, director research, GADVASU.
Ultra-Local Brooklyn-Based Aquaponics Operation Upward Farms Has National Agenda
In an interview with SeafoodSource, Upward Farms CEO Jason Green described the company’s whole ecosystems as “a paradigm shift in productivity and scalability compared to status quo production methods dependent upon synthetic chemicals.”
October 14, 2020
By Cliff White
Originally founded in 2013 as Edenworks and previously known as Seed & Roe, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.-based Upward Farms takes an ecosystem-based approach to its aquaponics operation, which produces microgreens and “mercury-free, antibiotic-free, and hormone-free” striped bass, rated as a “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program. In an interview with SeafoodSource, Upward Farms CEO Jason Green described the company’s whole ecosystems as “a paradigm shift in productivity and scalability compared to status quo production methods dependent upon synthetic chemicals.”
The company has had success selling its greens into Brooklyn grocery outlets including Whole Foods Market but has not yet sold any fish commercially. Green said the company has a “20-year vision to create a sustainable future for the food system by advancing the importance of the microbiome in both indoor and outdoor agriculture.” Upwards Farms recently closed on more than USD 15 million (EUR 12.8 million) in new funding, led by an investment from Prime Movers Lab.
SeafoodSource:
Why was striped bass chosen as the complementary species in Upward Farms’ integrated aquaponics system?
Green:
We’re an aquaponic farm – we grow fish and plants together in a closed ecosystem. It’s important for us to use a freshwater species instead of saltwater so we can directly utilize the waste from the fish as fertilizer for our leafy greens production. The striped bass hybrid that we use is a freshwater fish that retains the quality and character that eaters of striped bass love – clean, firm flesh with just the right amount of richness and skin that crisps up beautifully. Striped bass is also a fish that has a strong local following in the New York area, so there’s a baseline level of consumer awareness.
So while chefs and consumers in New York are already familiar with striped bass as a wild local fish that is available seasonally, we sought to complement that with a sustainably farmed alternative that can be sourced year-round.
SeafoodSource:
Can you say more about the company’s new facility and your other expansion plans?
Green:
Our new headquarters facility is based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and will be a fully automated vertical farm with aquaponic production. It will serve as our commercial facility, distributing leafy greens and fish to grocers across the New York City area. Our new headquarters is also where we’ll continue to conduct research and development to advance our technology and develop new products.
Longer-term goals include opening a farm outside every major metropolitan area, near distribution centers that serve the grocers for that area. This will enable us to cut down on how far food travels. This is a key objective of ours, given that 95 percent of U.S. leafy greens are trucked in from California or Arizona, and 90 percent of fish is imported from other countries. All those miles between farm and form compromise quality, safety, and cost. In cutting down food miles, we can create a more transparent, stable, and safe supply chain.
The importance of local production is something that COVID has really underscored. Add on top of that the risks posed by climate change, especially this year with record wildfires in the American West. In agriculture, as we’ve seen in medicine and other industries related to the public health response, the importance of short, stable supply chains is being recognized now more than ever.
SeafoodSource:
What role will the fish side of things play in the company’s future development?
Green:
The fish play an important and symbiotic role in our process. The fish are the source of fertilizer for our plants and the fuel for the microbiome that drives our competitive advantage. Our microbiome allows us to deliver higher produce yields, a disease resistance product, and superior food safety by preventing the growth of foodborne bacteria like E. Coli. In the long term, we anticipate our fish being a major source of revenue in and of itself.
Given that fish farming is the largest and fastest-growing food segment globally, and that local fish is the number-one consumer demand, yet 90 percent is imported and 40 percent is mislabeled, we see this as a blue ocean opportunity, pun intended.
SeafoodSource:
What is the fish-growing capacity at the farm?
Green
We’d like to pass on this as we’re not currently sharing this information publicly.
SeafoodSource:
When will they be commercially available?
Green:
Our fish will be commercially available in New York City by mid-2021.
SeafoodSource:
Has the company’s Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Best Choice” rating been affected at all by the changes being made to the Seafood Watch Program?
Green:
According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program, striped bass continues to be a “Best Choice” when farmed in indoor recirculating tanks with wastewater treatment, like our aquaponic production.
SeafoodSource:
How will the recent hiring of former RBC Capital Markets Managing Director and Co-Head of Real Estate Investment Banking John Perkins as Upward Farms’ new chief financial officer affect your company’s goals and fundraising efforts?
Green:
With our purpose of enabling everyone to nourish their body, family, and the planet, we are fortunate to have John join our team and together achieve massive scale and impact. John's unparalleled talent and experience, particularly in capitalizing the real estate and infrastructure that transformed the American food supply chain, will help Upward Farms attract the right capital partners, grow rapidly, and realize the full potential of our vision and technology platform.
Photo courtesy of Upward Farms