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Commercial Aquaponics

Ken Semmens Matthew Ferrell

Examples – “Business Model”

Production System

University of the Virgin Islands Recirculating Aquaculture System

Flowing Water System at Reymann Memorial Farm

This presentation is intended to help you understand

more about aquaponics on a commercial scale.

Rob Nash

Commercial system

Started as tilapia, but it was found to energy intensive in the winter

Sells at local farmers market, contracts with restaurants

2-3 dollars a head lettuce, sells kale, peppers, and tomato's as well

Brings lettuce still attached to net pots and roots

His farmers market activities drive system sales

Business Model Restaurant, Farm Market, System Sales

Nate Story- Zip Grow Towers

Commercial Vertical system

Aim is to locate very close to city markets

Sell live products in store

Use as much space as possible within grow house

At one point used tilapia, but has moved on to non food fish

Business Model Retail and System Sales

Marc Laberge from Quebec (http://www.cultures-aquaponiques.com/team.htm).

He raises rainbow trout and lettuce. He sells about $1000 worth of smoked trout a week and 6,800 heads of lettuce. He has survived for 8 years just doing production. Now he sells franchises.

Business Model Off the farm, grocery, and franchises

Green Acre Aquaponics

Based on modified UVI system

Been in operation 3 years

Supplement their organic wholesale food and CSA products

Large percent of income directly related to their teaching. Commercial guide cost $995

Classes are $1295 per person

Business Model Wholesale , CSA , tours and education

Growhaus - Variation on the UVI Design

Hybrid System

25% Beds with substrate

75% Rafts

Plants primary

Fish secondary

Tilapia

Fingerlings

Tilapia grow out

Settle solid waste

Substrate

Reservoir

1st raft channel

2nd raft channel

3rd raft channel

Pump

Growhaus - Denver

Tilapia

Fingerlings

Tilapia grow out

Settle solid waste

Substrate

Reservoir

1st raft channel

2nd raft channel

3rd raft channel

Pump

Growhaus - Denver

Will Allen’s Growing Power

Is a multi disciple agriculture learning center

Aquaponics is a small part of the system

Charge for tours and sell produce

Use mostly volunteer labor and “internships”

Many paid positions are grant funded or through Americorps.

Business Models Nonprofit, Educational and Agri-tourism

After School Matters Allen Foundation Andrah Foundation, Ruth Knoll Anonymous Family Foundation Bayshore Community

Foundation Fund Bradshaw Knight Foundation Brewers Community

Foundation, Inc. Brico Fund Bruce and Muriel Hach

Scientific Foundation C.G. Schmidt Construction

Company Ceres Foundation Chicago Community Trust,

Searle Family Fund Chicago Department of Family

and Support Services Chicago Police Department

Force for Good Chicago State University

Foundation City of Chicago Community

Development Grants Administration

City of Milwaukee, Community Development Grants Administration

Clif Bar Family Foundation Community Benefit Trust Fund Cream City Foundation -

Joseph R. Pabst LGBT Infrastructure Fund

Critical Mass Leadership Education

Dagoba Organic Chocolate David & Julia Uihlein

Charitable Foundation Farm Aid First Unitarian Society of

Milwaukee GE Foundation Matching Gifts The Goggio Family Foundation

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Henry & Mary Franke Idea Fund

Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Frank Kirkpatrick Fund

Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Kopmeier Family Fund

Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Walter and Olive Stiemke Fund

Green Bay Packers Foundation H.H. Camp Foundation Headwaters Foundation for

Justice – Young Donors Circle Fund

Business Model Nonprofit - contributors

Helen Bader Foundation Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation JPMorgan Chase Foundation J.R. Albert Foundation Kohl’s Stores A-Team LaSalle Bank Lawson Valentine Foundation L.E. Phillips Family Foundation, Inc. Liberty Property Trust Linda and Jock Mutschler

Foundation Lubar Family Foundation - Sheldon

& Marianne Lubar Charitable Fund Manaaki Foundation Medical College of Wisconsin,

Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program

Meshewa Farm Foundation Miller Brewing Company Milwaukee Area Workforce

Investment Board Milwaukee County Community

Development Block Grant National Education Association

Foundation Northwestern Mutual Foundation Patrick and Anna Cudahy Fund Parkways Foundation Richard and Ethel Herzfeld

Foundation Rotary Club of Mitchell Field

Charitable Foundation Scott’s Miracle Grow Service Club of Milwaukee Silver Spring Neighborhood Center St. Pius Congregation State of Wisconsin Office of Energy

Independence The 11-10-02 Foundation The Barnwood Foundation The Cleveland Foundation The Community Foundation

Serving Boulder County The E-Z Coffee Stand The Gardner Foundation The J.M. Kaplan Fund The John D. and Catherine T.

MacArthur Foundation The McCormick Foundation

The Monches Foundation The Robert R. McCormick

Foundation The Seed Fund University of Wisconsin Extension USA for Africa US Environmental Protection

Agency Environmental Justice Grants Program

USDA Community Food Projects USDA Farmers Market Promotion

Program The following businesses and

individuals have contributed their time, money, and materials:

Growing Power's Board of Director's and the Chicago Advisory Board for their guidance and generosity with their time

Will Allen, Milwaukee

Business Model Nonprofit - contributors

Alterra Coffee Avec, Chicago Blackbird, Chicago Bleeding Heart Bakery,

Chicago Breadsmith Bakery,

Milwaukee Columbia College, Chicago Dagoba Organic Chocolate Dave Ditscheit, Milwaukee First Slice Cafe, Chicago Floriole Bakery, Chicago Fraiche Kitchen, Chicago Get Me Greg's, Chicago Gino's Deli & Catering,

Milwaukee Goodness Greeness,

Chicago

Joan Jacobs, Milwaukee Jonathan’s Bagel,

Milwaukee Lakefront Brewery,

Milwaukee Kitchen Chicago, Chicago Magilo's Produce,

Milwaukee Elizabeth Malone,

Milwaukee Arthur Marburg,

Milwaukee Marcus Corporation,

Milwaukee Outpost Cooperative,

Milwaukee The Publican, Chicago Red Hen Bread, Chicago Seedling Fruit, Michigan

Sendik's Grocery, Milwaukee

The Signature Room, Chicago

The Simple Soyman, Milwaukee

Sprecher Brewery, Milwaukee

Sunday Dinner, Chicago Dave Swanson, Milwaukee Vella Cafe, Chicago Whole Foods, Chicago Wild Flour Bakery,

Milwaukee

Business Model Nonprofit - contributors

Currently aquaponics is a viable business that seems to require diversification of products and services.

It is difficult, though possible, to run a farm with revenue from the produce alone.

Take home message:

Reymann Memorial Farm (WVU) Cold Flowing Water System

Wardensville, WV

Spring Trout

Raceway

Aquaponic Channel

with rafts

Polishing Pond

Discharge to Stream

Cold Flowing Water System

Facility Components at Reymann Memorial Farm

Plants adapted to cool root zone: • Watercress • Lettuce • Swiss Chard • Kale • Kohlrabi • Broccoli • Cabbage • Nasturtium • Calendula • Dianthus • Mums

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

Nutrient levels low, do not accumulate

Seeking to determine what grows well and rates of production

First goal - product value, second goal - improve water quality.

More information on this work covered in Research Update part of today’s program.

Reymann Memorial Farm (WVU)

UVI -best known, most well researched aquaponic production system

Diagram from Recirculating Aquaculture Systems by Timmons et al 2002, pg 637. NRAC pub 01-002

Slides from Plant Production Presentation at the 2012

Aquaponics Association Meeting

James Rakocy,

PhD

Director/Consultant of The Aquaponics Doctors http://theaquaponicsdoctors.com/

Formerly:

AES Director, Professor of Aquaculture at University of the Virgin Islands

Pioneered Aquaponics research and development.

Nutrients Required for Plant Growth

Macronutrients

– C Carbon*

– O Oxygen*

– H Hydrogen*

– N Nitrogen

– K Potassium**

– Ca Calcium**

– Mg Magnesium

– P Phosphorus

– S Sulfur

Micronutrients

– Cl Chlorine

– Fe Iron**

– Mn Manganese

– B Boron

– Zn Zinc

– Cu Copper

– Mo Molybdenum

* Supplied by CO2 and H2O ** Must be supplemented

Rakocy 2012

Production Methods

Staggered

Allows weekly harvests

Facilitates market development

Maintains uniform nutrient uptake

Batch

Easier management

Can deplete nutrients

Rakocy 2012

Seedling Production

Greenhouse or shade house

Protected area

Keep it clean

Metal tables

Install drain if concrete floor

Weed barrier if gravel floor

Planting media and dead plant material can harbor

insects and disease

Rakocy 2012

Planting Media

Soilless potting mix

Coir (coconut fibers) + Vermiculite

60% + 40% mix

Free from pythium

Requires fertilizer supplementation

Labor required to prepare mix

Rakocy 2012

Planting Media

Peat potting mix (i.e. Promix BX)

– Inexpensive

– Readably available

– Contains micronutrients for seedling growth

– Can have pythium spores

Jiffy peat pellets

– Expensive

– Easy to use

– Can have pythium spores

Oasis root cubes

– Expensive

– Requires additional nutrients

– Dries out quickly in greenhouse

Rockwool

– Expensive

– Non-biodegradable

Rakocy 2012

Seedling Production Fill flat with mix

Seed at required depth for plant variety

Automatic seeder for small and surface planted seeds

Cover flat until seeds germinate

Many seeds germinate better in the dark

Keeps mice from stealing seeds

Keeping covered too long causes seedlings to elongate

and have weak stems

Water as needed

Some seeds prefer dryer conditions than others

Use mist nozzle for first week

Fertilize 2-3 times weekly Rakocy 2012

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Watering Equipment

Hozon Siphon Mixer

– 1:16 proportioning device

Rakocy 2012

NPK Nitrogen, Potassium,

Phosphorous

N - Nitrogen - shoots

P - Phosphorous - roots

K - Potassium - flowers and fruit

Use 9-45-15 for seedling production

– Promotes strong root formation

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Deep Flowing Channels

Six channels

100 ft x 4 ft x 16 in

Total water volume

18,000 gallons

3 hr retention time

72 rafts

8 ft x 4 ft

Growing area

2304 ft2

100 ft x 4 ft x 16 in

– 72 Rafts

2.4 m x 1.2 m x 3.8 cm

(8 ft x 4 ft x 1.5 in)

214 m2 surface area

(2,304 ft2)

Rakocy 2012

Raft Preparation Closed-cell polystyrene (Dow blue board, not

scored)

Dow Styrofoam® Square Edge Extruded

4 ft x 8 ft x 1.5 in

Paint

White, latex, non-toxic, roof paint

Plant holes – 1.87 in

Use template for spacing

Spacing varies for vegetable variety

Net pots: 2 in x 2 in Rakocy 2012

Rakocy 2012

Production Management pH maintained at 7.0

KOH

Ca(OH)2

Chelated iron

2 ppm (mg/liter)

Chelated iron is 13% pure so multiply by 7.7

(i.e., 15.4 mg of product gives 2 mg of iron)

Manage net tanks with cleaning schedule to control nitrate levels

Biological pest control

Integrated pest management Rakocy 2012

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Lettuce

High nitrogen levels promotes leafy growth

Short production cycle generates steady

cash flow

Strong demand

Rakocy 2012

Lettuce Production Cycle

Greenhouse Phase

Week 1

– Day 0: seed

Week 2

– Day 7: thin flat

– Day 7, 10, 13: fertilize

Week 3

– Day 14, 16, 19:

fertilize

Aquaponic System Phase

Week 4

– Day 21: transplant to

aquaponic system

– Day 23, 26: spray with BT

Week 5

– Day 30, 33: Spray with BT

Week 6

– Day 37, 40: Spray with BT

Week 7

– Day 42, 45: Spray with BT

– Day 49: Harvest

Rakocy 2012

Rakocy 2012

Lettuce Harvest Procedures Move sheets with mature plants to one end of the raft

Lift sheets to harvesting stand or harvest in place

Cut off lettuce stalk with a sharp knife and remove

lower poor quality leaves

Discard any poor quality lettuce

Pack 24 lettuce heads to a box

Weigh several randomly selected boxes minus the

empty box weight to calculate total harvest weight and

average weight per head of lettuce.

Count box to determine total lettuce number and

percentage of marketable yield

Rakocy 2012

Lettuce Harvest Procedures Lettuce that is not distributed immediately should

be stored in a moist refrigerated room

Surface of the sheets should be washed with

dechlorinated water to remove any dead leaves

and quickly returned to hydroponic tanks

Plants roots and growing media should be

removed from net pots and discarded

Cleaned net pots should be disinfected by soaking

them in water containing bleach, rinsed and then

dried before they are used again.

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Lettuce Production Values Type Romaine Crisphead Leaf Bibb

Variety Parris

Island

Montello Sierra Boston

Bibb

Density

(plants/raft)

48 60 60 88

Harvest

(cs/sheet)

2 2.5 2.5 3.67

Value

($/case)

30 25 25 20

Total 60 62.5 62.50 73.4

Rakocy 2012

Leaf Lettuce

Sierra

20/m2, 60 per raft

Staggered production

18 rafts harvested/week

Market value

$1.00/head

Value

$196/m2/year

~$41,900/system/year

Rakocy 2012

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Romaine Lettuce

Parris Island

16/m2, 48 per raft

Staggered production

18 rafts harvested/week

Market value

$1.25/head

Value

$157/m2/yearr

~$33,600/system/yearr

Rakocy 2012

Pythium spp.

Root fungus

No IPM control

Low temperature

reduces growth and

impact of some

Pythium species

Select resistant

varieties

Rakocy 2012

Basil Production

48 plants/sheet

Staggered production

Complete harvest recommended

Cut and come again at 4 week intervals is

alternative

Grow for 3 months

Harvest (cut) three times then remove

Reduces survival and increases pythium

Seedlings

3 weeks in greenhouse

Rakocy 2012

Basil Genovese

16/m2, 48 per raft

Market value

$10.00/lb

Value

$515/m2/yr

$110,210/system/yr

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Melon Production

2 plants/sheet

Use one side only and allow plants to run on ground

Plant other side with companion crop

Or construct narrow hydroponic tanks

< 3 month crop

Plants die as melons ripen on the vine

Seedlings

1-2 weeks in greenhouse

Rakocy 2012

Cantaloupe Jaipur

0.67/m2, 2 per raft

Market value $3.99 each

Value

Each: $46.28/m2/yr

$9,900/system/yr

Rakocy 2012

Revenue for Various Crops

Crop $/m2/yr $/ft2/yr

Leaf lettuce (20/m2) 196 18.22

Romaine lettuce

(16/m2)

157 14.59

Basil (16/m2) 515 47.86

Okra (3.7/m2) 15 1.39

Cantaloupe (0.67/m2) 46 4.28

Rakocy 2012

Plant Pest and Disease Control

No synthetic chemical pesticides

Biological controls used to control insects

IPM to reduce pest pressure

Rakocy 2012

Biological Controls

Dipel Bacteria

Controls

caterpillars

Armicarb Potassium

bicarbonate

Controls fungus, powdery mildew.

Changes pH of leaf surface making it unsuitable for fungus growth

BotaniGard Fungus

Controls soft bodied insects (white flies, aphids)

Rakocy 2012

Application

of Dipel with

gas powered

backpack

sprayer

Rakocy 2012

Soaps and Oils

Coats insect causing

death.

Kills all insects

Including beneficial

Ladybugs, wasps, bees

Rakocy 2012

Barriers

Shade cloth

Tangle foot

Rakocy 2012

Thank you, Jim, for sharing these

slides.

Questions?