Aquaponics in Washington, DC

Transcription

1 Aquaponics in Washington, DC March 3, 2018 Brian Filipowich Director, Anacostia Aquaponics Chairman, Aquaponics Association Part I Putting Aquaponics in Perspective 1 What is aquaponics? 2 What are the benefits of aquaponics? 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Part II Growing with Aquaponics 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system 6 The easiest way to start 7 Starting up

2 1 What is aquaponics? Aquaponics is a method of growing fish and plants in a recirculating, soil-less system that mimics the natural biological cycle. Hydroponics growing plants in water + Aquaculture raising aquatic animals Aquaponics Lucky Clay s Fresh Commercial aquaponic farm in NC

3 1 What is aquaponics? The Aquaponics Cycle Plants filter the water for the fish Fish eat and produce waste Bacteria convert fish waste into a form plants can absorb

4 1 What is aquaponics? The ORIGINAL Aquaponics The most well-known examples are the stationary islands set up in shallow lakes in central America (e.g., Aztec s Chinampas BC), and the introduction of fish into paddy rice fields in South-East Asia about 1500 years ago.

5 2 What are the benefits of aquaponics? Less water use - Aquaponic systems use over 90% less water than traditional agriculture per pound of produce. Fully-automated aquaponic trailer with goldfish from Nov 2017 Aquaponics Conference in Portland, OR Local economic growth - Aquaponics can be performed from cities to deserts, offering jobs and local economic growth anywhere. No antibiotics - Aquaponic systems are naturally incompatible with antibiotics; growers rely on a diverse microbial ecosystem for natural disease suppression.

6 2 What are the benefits of aquaponics? Less food miles - Aquaponics can deliver fresh produce in any environment which will reduce carbon use, food spoilage, and nutrient depletion. Better food safety - Controlled-environment greenhouses minimize the risk of outdoor contamination hazards that cause most outbreaks. No toxic runoff - Aquaponic systems are closedloop and do not emit the harmful agricultural runoff that causes aquatic dead-zones. Morning Star Fishermen, Florida

7 2 What are the benefits of aquaponics? No synthetic chemicals - Aquaponic systems are naturally incompatible with synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Less land-use and soil erosion - Aquaponics can be practiced anywhere, and plants can yield over 150% more produce than traditional agriculture per grow area. Protein! UDC Hydroponic A-frame at PR Harris Campus

8 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? Aquaponics is not yet commercially mainstream, a few reasons: Lack of technical expertise, industry standards. Difficult to profit from fish and plants from a business perspective. Food safety regulations can be difficult. High upfront costs are required to construct and operate an efficient, reliable aquaponic system. Many folks underestimate the difficulty of properly designing and operating a system, most growers find a long, steep (yet rewarding!) learning curve. We don t use true cost accounting, so there are no market forces to allow efficient growers to capitalize on their efficiency

9 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? The Aquaponics Industry In 2010, one expert estimated that between 800 and 1,200 home aquaponic systems and 1,000 school aquaponic systems existed in the United Sates; (Love, et al 2014) Brooklyn is now home to not one, but three aquaponic farms: Verticulture, Edenworks and OKO farms. (ecowatch) June 14, 2017: Urban Organics and Pentair just opened one of the largest commercial aquaponic farms in the world in St. Paul Minnesota. Urban Organics will use Pentair s advanced pumps, filters, aerators, mineralization systems and more to raise 275,000 pounds of Atlantic salmon and arctic char fish each year. About 475,000 pounds of organic greens including kale, bok choy and arugula also will be produced. In 2012, there were 21 states that reported at least one aquaponics farm to the USDA; [USDA-NASS 2013], with a total of 71 aquaponics farms reported across the United States. In 2012, Florida had the most aquaponics farms (20%), followed by Wisconsin (10%), Arizona (8%), New York (8%), and Hawaii (7%). The Aquaponics Association recently sent 200 signatures to Congress asking for support in the 2018 Farm Bill.

10 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today?

11 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? From the USDA 1/25/18: "Certification of hydroponic, aquaponic, and aeroponic operations is allowed under the USDA organic regulations, and has been since the National Organic Program began. For these products to be labeled as organic, the operation must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent, and maintain compliance with the USDA organic regulations. Live Local Organic, A certified organic Aquaponic basil production facility in a Portland, OR warehouse

12 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? Wisconsin 2+ acre greenhouse 18,000 heads of lettuce per day 99.9% water re-use

13 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today?

14 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? Superior Fresh s statements about its fish:

15 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? Superior Fresh s statements about its fish:

16 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? In late 2013 aquaponics consultant Paul Van der Werf, from Queensland's Earthan Group, was invited to the UAE to build one of the world's biggest aquaponics systems. The farm, now completed, consists of a 4,500 square metre shed which produces around 40 tonnes of tilapia. There is sand as far as the eye can see and daily temperatures soar to about 50 degrees. On the face of it, is is probably not the ideal spot to establish a fish and vegetable farm. The aquaponics system can grow a range of leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes and cucumbers.

17 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today?

18 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today?

19 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? Togo, West Africa Philanthropic organizations construct and train impoverished communities to grow with aquaponics.

20 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? Aquaponics is starting to play a large role in STEM education NASA believes that aquaponics or similar technologies may be key to feeding long-distance human space exploration. A current study is underway by NASA of the microbiology of aquaponic systems across the country.

21 3 What s the status of aquaponics in the world today? Aquaponics Fighting Hunger The Mississauga Food Bank in Canada uses aquaponics to feed the community

22 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Firebird Farm Bertie Backus Campus East Cap Urban Farm Van Ness Campus East Cap Urban Farm PR Harris Campus

23 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Fish Tanks Fish target - approx Grow Beds 18ft square Dutch Buckets Van Ness six 110gal Twenty-five 1lb tilapia/month 6 20? PR Harris six 110gal Twenty-five 1lb tilapia/month ECAP six 650gal Two-hundred 1lb tilapia/month Backus six 650gal Two-hundred 1lb tilapia/month 10? 40? The UDC aquaponic greenhouses also feature auxiliary systems for Solid Waste Capture, Water Heating / Cooling, Electricity, and Automatic Water Makeup. Tavon and Bill working on the Drum Filter at the Bertie Backus Aquaponic System

24 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? I think* the UDC Van Ness aquaponic system has been consistently growing large amounts of crops with fish waste providing 100% of the nutrients for about 9 months. This included many healthy tomato plants. Several UDC systems still working out technical difficulties

25 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? One day of Scott s summer harvest Scott s backyard system in NE DC!!! Using rainwater! We had a backyard aquaponic fish fry!

26 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Experimental backyard system across from Ballou

27 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Houston Elementary (no longer operational I don t think) Aquaponics in DC schools J.O. Wilson (no longer operational) IDEA PCS doing OK

28 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? The Hootie 2.0 Iona Senior Center in NW DC

29 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Working with Avanti Woodworks near Eastern Market on the Hootie 2.0 Hootie my cat

30 The Hootie 1.0 popped out a crunchy and tasty little experimental string bean!!

31 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? H Street Farms, NE DC Former aquaponic system under renovation Small footprint, vertical aquaponic bucket system

32 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Silver Spring, MD

33 4 What s the status of aquaponics in Washington, DC? Oct 2017 Urban farming company Kappa Farms will invest $865,000 and hire 21 peopleto open an aquaponics operation in Sterling. (VA) According to the office of Governor Terry McAuliffe, the company will build a closed-loop nutrient cycle aquaponics facility which will produce certified organic baby lettuces and arugula using water and nutrients derived from fish waste. The company will produce more than $7 million worth Virginia-grown lettuces over the next three years, which it will then sell to customers and restaurants in the Washington, DC, metro area.

34 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system **Part 2 Growing with Aquaponics** The Basic Elements of an Aquaponics System 1. At least one fish tank 2. At least one plant trough 3. Bacterial biofilter 4. Water 5. Oxygenation 6. A water pump 7. Plumbing to pipe it all together

35 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system Water key water quality parameters are: dissolved oxygen > 5ppm ph b/w key is stability, 7.0 optimal but its complicated to adjust it Temperature depends on fish, stability is key total nitrogen Ammonia + Nitrite near 0 Each parameter has an impact on all three organisms in the unit (fish, plants and bacteria), and understanding the effects of each parameter is crucial. (Somerville et al, 2014)

36 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system Tilapia, Catfish, Blue Gill, Goldfish, Trout, Koi, and other fish have all been grown successfully with aquaponics. Enough fish need to be stocked in the system to adequately feed the plants. Generally, the fish food is the only nutritional input for the plants of a system. Many large commercial systems will supplement for specific nutrients depending on factors such as crops grown and water ph. Fish should be observed to make sure they are healthy. If they are gulping for air or sluggish it could be a clue to poor conditions that need to be addressed. The Fish

37 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system The Plants Or Vertical towers Three common hydroponic methods to raise plants in an aquaponics system: Media Bed Nutrient Film Technique Deep Water Culture / Raft Plants are grown in containers with media such as gravel or clay pellets to support the roots. Plants are grown in long narrow channels with a thin film of water running inside. Plants are grown on floating rafts with roots submerged in the water below

38 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system The Plants No matter which system is used, an aquaponics grower will need to propagate seedlings and keep enough plants in the system to ensure the water is filtered for the fish. Just like in soil, plants need to be observed periodically for proper growth. Leafy greens and herbs are the easiest crops to grow in aquaponics. Fruiting crops like tomatoes and cucumbers also grow well but require a system with more fish for adequate nutrition.

39 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system Bacteria / The Biofilter Every aquaponics system requires a minimum amount Of surface area for bacteria to colonize and convert fish waste Into a form the plants can absorb 1. A major component of fish waste is Ammonia NH Nitrosomona bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites 3. Nitrospira bacteria convert Nitrites to Nitrates, which the plants need for growth NH 2 - NH 3 - Lots of Surface Area!?!?!

40 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system Aquaponic Systems Utilize the Soil Food Web to Grow Healthy Crops Summary of Research 1. Where does the soil food web live in a bioponic system? Microbes aggregate on all surfaces within a bioponic system and suspended in the water column. Roots are a hotspot of microbial activity in both bioponic systems and in soil. Micro niches within the systems provide bacteria with ideal conditions for growth. Different system components provide unique environments and host varying microbialcommunities. 2. How big and diverse is the soil food web in a bioponic system? Bioponic systems have been found to host a comparable quantity and diversity of microorganismsto soil, if not greater. The USDA s Hydroponic and Aquaponic Task Force case study of hydroponic tomatoes found thatthe number of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes in the system was above expected levelsto be found in a typical organic soil. 3. What does the soil food web do in a bioponic system? Soil Food Web microorganisms break down solids and make macro- and micro-nutrients moreavailable to plants. Soil Food Web microorganisms provide biocontrol and disease-suppression, improving overallplant health and quality. Bacteria inhabiting the rhizosphere of plant roots improve cell processes with the plant tissue. Studies have found that crop spoilage and fecal microorganisms are less prevalent in bioponicsystems compared soil

41 5 The basic elements of an aquaponic system System Design An aquaponic system must have a balance fish, plants, and bacteria. Here are examples of a few of the aquaponics rules of thumb for beginners 1lb fish per 5 to 10 gallons of fish tank water For a media bed system, 1:1 fish tank to growbed volume. Floating raft, higher growbed volume relative to fishtanks The water in the system should circulate at least once per hour The feed rate ratio for leafy vegetables is g/m2 /day; fruiting vegetables require g/m2 /day (these estimates are old and a bit high) Fish eat between 1 to 2% of their total body weight per day Between 20 and 25 leafy green plants can be grown per meter 2, about 4 fruiting plants can be grown per meter 2 Biofilter minimum, 2.5 ft 2 / gallon of water for a low stocked system SSA Specific Surface Area meter squared of surface area per meter cubed of volume (Figures from the U.N. FAO Aquaponics Quick Reference Handout, 2014)

42 6 The easiest way to start The Easiest Aquaponics System for Beginners Aquaponic systems come in a dramatic range of sizes and configurations, from multi-acre industrial facilities to table top fish bowls that grow one sprig of parsley. But the most basic system is a media grow bed stacked on top of a fish tank.

43 6 The easiest way to start Only Two Water-Proof Troughs This system only requires two water-proof troughs: one fish tank and one media bed. The plumbing is simple, because all you need is one pump to lift the water from the fish tank to the grow bed, and one drain from the grow bed back down to the fish tank. And because the troughs are stacked, this system takes up less space and only needs one support structure. Many aquaponics systems include multiple fish tanks and grow troughs which add more plumbing, more space, and more complication. Chop n Flip IBC Tote System

44 6 The easiest way to start The Media Bed Serves as a Solids Filter and a Biofilter The media will hold onto fish solids that get pumped up from the fish tank. Inside the media bed this solid waste will have access to enough oxygen to break down and mineralize, releasing nutrients from the fish waste to the plants. (Conversely, DWC and NFT systems require a separate solids filter to address the solid fish waste.) Red Wiggler worms to improve microbiology and nutrient cycling! In addition to solids filtration, an aquaponic system also needs a biofilter to house the bacteria that convert the ammonia from the fish into nitrates for the plants. A biofilter is a fancy name for something with a lot of surface area for bacteria to colonize. The pebbles, balls, or stones of a media bed have enough surface area to serve as the biofilter. (Conversely, DWC and NFT systems require a separate biofilter. The additional solids filter and biofilter for DWC and NFT systems represent two more pieces of hardware, more space, and more plumbing.)

45 7 Starting up Aquaponics System Cycling Starting Up a System System cycling is the initial process of building a nitrifying bacteria colony in a new aquaponic unit. Methods: Add ammonia and wait Buy solution with bacteria Borrow someone else s biofilter!

46 7 Starting up Watch for Chlorine and Chloramine, these will inhibit your biofilter But a chlorine remover from the fish section of pet stores

47 If you are interested in aquaponics, I recommend starting small (less than 100 gallons) and proving you can operate a basic system for a few months before you make large investments or plans for a bigger system. Questions? Brian@anacostiaaquaponics.org