Tawnya Sawyer
The integration of: Aquaculture Farming aquatic species in a controlled environment Hydroponics Growing plants in soil-less media Aquaponics is an integrated and balanced system using the by-product of one species to grow another, mimicking a natural ecosystem
1. Fish are raised in a tank 2. Water flows through filtration to soil-less growing area 3. Bacteria convert ammonia and nitrite to nitrate 4. Plants absorb the nutrient rich, oxygenated water 5. Clean water is returned to the fish tank Fish are Happy! Plants are Happy! We get more to eat!
No petro-chemical based fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides Uses only 10% of water used in traditional agriculture No soil-borne diseases, E-coli, Salmonella, no tilling, no weeds Reduced concerns of fish contamination or species depletion Grow two food products together, protein and produce Greater crop yields, faster production, vertical planting methods No waste byproducts, all waste is naturally reused Food security, grow your own food, indoors, year-round Significantly reduced food transportation with local production Works in draught, places with poor soil quality or challenging climates Enhances the local economy and provides green job opportunities
Uses 10% of water
Aquarium Fish Tilapia Perch Trout Catfish Bass Bluegill Carp Koi Goldfish Crayfish Freshwater Prawns
Lettuces Squash Zucchini Peppers Cucumbers Strawberries Peas & Beans Cooking Greens Most Herbs Tomatoes Melons Other plants
Also called flood and drain or ebb and flow Filled with gravel, hydroton, crushed shale Most common in home and education Image and copy credit: Murray Hallam Practical Aquaponics www.aquaponics.net.au
Method researched and developed at University of Virgin Islands More commonly used for commercialize food production Also called deep water culture
Greater food production in a smaller footprint using vertical space
Farmtek Growersupply.com www.foddersolutions.org
Becoming VERY popular Grown food for thousands of years Building interest around the world Schools and social enterprises looking to install Hobby, farm and commercial scale being developed Sustainable, alternate, innovative agriculture Popular with farm to fork (tank to table)
Fish are cold blooded species Fish don t produce pathogenic e.coli, Salmonella, etc. Many aquaponics systems are enclosed Fewer concerns with land use or fish contaminants Aquaponics systems are sensitive to common agro-chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers Inputs can be closely monitored Workers, Water, Wildlife, Manure can be controlled
Whole, live and uneviscerated Sold to stock other people systems Customers include individuals, chefs and markets Customer takes possession of fish in bucket, cooler or bag of water Customer is responsible for gutting, cleaning and disposal of offal Owner has completed Seafood HACCP certification training
Produce sold as raw agriculture product Product is harvested using greenhouses GAP guidelines Customers include CSA members, markets, chefs, farmer s markets, catering companies, and individuals Customer instructed to wash food before consuming We know how it was grown and harvested No harmful chemicals We feed it to our family, friends and animals
Pathogens can be introduced Leafy greens are eaten raw Recirculating system Species integration, complexities and issues Good environment for opportunistic bacteria Very different products brought to market (fish, produce) Produce grown close to surface, high moisture content Lack of aquaponics industry standards and knowledge
Biological Pathogenic bacteria Fish parasites or diseases Viruses and germs Chemical Pesticides, nutrients, sanitizers, cleaning agents, test kit reagents Physical Glass, metal, building debris
Used with permission from Dr. John Ryan, Ryan Systems Inc.
Water is filtered, but not composted, heated, or otherwise sterilized before it flows to the root system of plants
Audit question: is raw manure adjacent to the food crop? This question is an AUTO FAIL if the answer is YES The answer is YES in regards to aquaponics Private industry food safety certifiers may not certify an aquaponic farm as food safe compliant We cannot currently pass an audit
Farms are considered exempt from Preventative Controls for Human Foods Farms defined as Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding food for human or animal consumption Farms do not have to register as a food facility Updated guidelines on water quality and microbial levels Manure strategy to be studied further (GAP, NOP) Compliance deadlines based on farm revenue FDA Website 8/31/2015
Plan, control, test and document Comply as close as possible to available standards Work to shape aquaponics specific guidelines Educate other aquaponic farmers about food safety
FDA Food safety guidelines for lettuce and leafy greens ecfr Electronic Code of Federal Regulations FSMA Farm Safety Modernization Act Cornell University Self Assessment GAP Audit GFSI - Global Food Safety Initiative CSU Extension GAP Webinar, Farm to Table CDPHE Colorado Department of Public Health and Enviornment PrimusLabs Greenhouse and Harvest Audit Checklist Food Service Magazine, Developing Food Safety and Quality Plans An Aquaponics Process Control Example, Sept 18, 2012, John Ryan PhD. University of Hawaii On-Farm Food Safety Aquaponics, July 2009 Aquaponics and Food Safety, Gordon Chalmers DVM, April 2004 Biosecurity and Food Safety, Green Acres Aquaponics, March 2013 Food Safety: Catch 22 in Aquaponics, NCSI America, Matt Regusci, Sept 2012 Seafood HACCP training and certification materials
Create, Innovate, Educate, Integrate, Connect, Evolve www.coloradoaquaponics.com Tawnya@coloradoaquaponics.com