Commercial Aquaponics Ken Semmens
Matthew Ferrell
This presentation is intended to help you understand more about aquaponics on a commercial scale.
Examples – “Business Model”
Production System
University of the Virgin Islands Recirculating Aquaculture System Flowing Water System at Reymann Memorial Farm
Business Model Restaurant, Farm Market, System Sales
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 Retail and 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 Off the farm, grocery, and franchises
Marc Laberge from Quebec (http://www.culturesaquaponiques.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 Wholesale , CSA , tours and education
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
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
Pump
3rd raft channel
2nd raft channel
1st raft channel
Growhaus - Denver
Growhaus - Denver
Tilapia Fingerlings
Tilapia grow out Settle solid waste
Substrate
Reservoir
Pump
3rd raft channel
2nd raft channel
1st raft channel
Business Models Nonprofit, Educational and Agri-tourism
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 Model Nonprofit - contributors
After School Matters Allen Foundation Andrah Foundation, Ruth Knoll Anonymous Family Foundation Bayshore Community Foundation Fund Bradshaw Knight Foundation Brewers Community
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
Foundation, Brico Fund Inc. 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 The Goggio Family Foundation Chicago State University
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
Take home message:
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.
Reymann Memorial Farm (WVU) Cold Flowing Water System Wardensville, WV
Cold Flowing Water System
Spring
Trout Raceway
Aquaponic Channel with rafts
Polishing Pond
Discharge to Stream
Facility Components at Reymann Memorial Farm
Greenhouse Plants adapted to cool root zone: Watercress Lettuce Swiss Chard • • • • • • • • • • •
Kale Kohlrabi Broccoli Cabbage Nasturtium Calendula Dianthus Mums
High Tunnel
Reymann Memorial Farm (WVU)
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.
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 O H N K Ca Mg P S
Carbon* Oxygen* Hydrogen* Nitrogen Potassium** Calcium** Magnesium Phosphorus Sulfur
Micronutrients – Cl – Fe – – – – –
Chlorine 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 Coir
potting mix
(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)
– Expensive – Requires additional
– Inexpensive – Readably available
nutrients – Dries out quickly in greenhouse
– Contains micronutrients for seedling growth – Can have pythium spores
Jiffy peat pellets – Expensive – Easy to use – Can have pythium spores
Oasis root cubes
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
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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 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
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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
Aquaponic System Phase
– Day 21: transplant to
– Day 0: seed
Week 2 – Day 7: thin flat
aquaponic system
– Day 23, 26: spray with BT
– Day 7, 10, 13: fertilize
Week 3
– Day 14, 16, 19: fertilize
Week 4
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. Rakocy 2012
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Lettuce Production Values Type Variety
Romaine Crisphead
Leaf
Bibb
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
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
Rakocy 2012
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 Rakocy 2012
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 $/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
Crop
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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
BotaniGard
Bacteria
Fungus Controls soft bodied insects (white flies, aphids)
Controls caterpillars
Armicarb Potassium bicarbonate Controls fungus, powdery mildew. Changes pH of leaf surface making it unsuitable for fungus growth
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Application of Dipel with gas powered backpack sprayer
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Soaps and Oils Coats
insect causing
death. Kills
all insects
Including beneficial Ladybugs, wasps, bees
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Barriers Shade cloth Tangle foot
Rakocy 2012
Thank you, Jim, for sharing these slides. Questions?
