Aquaponics Organic Pesticide

Neem oil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neem oil

Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of the neem (Azadirachta indica), an evergreen tree which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is the most important of the commercially available products of neem for organic farming and medicines.

Neem oil varies in color; it can be golden yellow, yellowish brown, reddish brown, dark brown, greenish brown, or bright red. It has a rather strong odor that is said to combine the odours of peanut and garlic. It is composed mainly of triglycerides and contains many triterpenoid compounds, which are responsible for the bitter taste. It is hydrophobic in nature; in order to emulsify it in water for application purposes, it must be formulated with appropriate surfactants.

Azadirachtin is the most well known and studied triterpenoid in neem oil. The azadirachtin content of neem oil varies from 300ppm to over 2500ppm depending on the extraction technology and quality of the neem seeds crushed. Neem oil also contains steroids (campesterol, beta-sitosterol,stigmasterol).

Neem fruit

The method of processing is likely to affect the composition of the oil, since the methods used, such as pressing (expelling) or solvent extraction are unlikely to remove exactly the same mix of components in the same proportions. The neem oil yield that can be obtained from neem seed kernels also varies widely in literature from 25% to 45%.

The oil can be obtained through pressing (crushing) of the seed kernel both through cold pressing or through a process incorporating temperature controls. Neem seed oil can also be obtained by solvent extraction of the neem seed, fruit, oil, cake or kernel. A large industry in India extracts the oil remaining in the seed cake using hexane. This solvent-extracted oil is of a lower quality as compared to the cold pressed oil and is mostly used for soap manufacturing. Neem cake is a by-product obtained in the solvent extraction process for neem oil.

Neem leaves and flowers

Neem oil is not used for cooking purposes. In India, it is used for preparing cosmetics (soap, hair products, body hygiene creams, hand creams) and in Ayurvedic, Unani and folklore traditional medicine, in the treatment of a wide range of afflictions. The most frequently reported indications in ancient Ayurvedic writings are skin diseases, inflammations and fevers, and more recentlyrheumatic disorders, insect repellent and insecticide effects.

Traditional Ayurvedic uses of neem include the treatment of acne, fever, leprosy, malaria, ophthalmia and tuberculosis. Various folk remedies for neem include use as an anthelmintic, antifeedant,antiseptic, diuretic, emmenagogue, contraceptive, febrifuge, parasiticide, pediculocide and insecticide. It has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of tetanus, urticaria, eczema,scrofula and erysipelas. Traditional routes of administration of neem extracts included oral, vaginal and topical use. Neem oil has an extensive history of human use in India and surrounding regions for a variety of therapeutic purposes. Puri (1999) has given an account of traditional uses and therapeutic indications and pharmacological studies of this oil, in his book on neem.

Formulations made of neem oil also find wide usage as a biopesticide for organic farming, as it repels a wide variety of pests including the mealy bug, beet armyworm, aphids, the cabbage worm, thrips, whiteflies, mites, fungus gnats, beetles, moth larvae, mushroom flies, leafminers, caterpillars, locust, nematodes and the Japanese beetle. Neem oil is not known to be harmful to mammals, birds, earthworms or some beneficial insects such as butterflies, honeybees and ladybugs if it is not concentrated directly into their area of habitat or on their food source. It can be used as a household pesticide for ant, bedbug, cockroach, housefly, sand fly, snail, termite and mosquitoes both as repellent and larvicide. Neem oil also controls black spot, powdery mildew,anthracnose and rust fungi.

Neem seed oil has also been found to prevent implantation and may even have an abortifacient effect similar to pennyroyal, juniper berries, wild ginger, myrrh and angelica. The effects were seen as many as ten days after fertilization in rats though it was most effective at no more than three days. (Sinha, et al., 1984); (Lal et al., 1985). In a study on rats, neem oil was given orally eight to ten days after implantation of the fetus on the uterine wall. In all cases, by day 15, the embryos were all completely resorbed by the body. The animals regained fertility on the next cycle showing no physical problems. Detailed study of the rats revealed increased levels of gamma interferon in the uterus. The neem oil enhanced the local immune response in the uterus.(Mukherjee, 1996) Post coital use of neem oil as birth control does not appear to work by hormonal changes but produces changes in the organs that make pregnancy no longer viable (Tewari, 1989),(Bardham, 1991).

Neem seed oil has also been used as a renewable source for the preparation of polymeric coatings. It has been converted into various polymeric resins, including polyesteramides and polyetheramides. These resins may be utilized further for preparation of polyurethane coatings.

Neem tree

Aquaponics as a Business opportunity

How to Start your own Aquaponics Business at Home

credit to http://www.aquaponicsandyou.com/

With many people looking for ways to increase their income these days, starting a home-based business is an attractive option. There are several major hurdles to clear before you can start earning any money from a new enterprise, not the least of which is funding. Many new businesses need a huge injection of capital before any return can be realised and this factor alone prevents many from getting off the ground. An aquaponics business is the exception.

Unlike most other types of business, setting up an aquaponics farm does not cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. While the actual set-up cost obviously varies depending on the size of the system, experts claim that most investors can expect to see a return in a relatively short period of time. Some claim it is possible to have the whole system paid off in a twelve month period.

Aquaponic farming combines aquaculture and hydroponics. Fish are kept in a tank and the water from the tank is pumped through the plants and back into the tank, in a continuous process. Aquarium water is rich in nutrients because of the waste products expelled by the fish and it is these nutrients that the plants take up and use to grow. The water that is returned to the fish tank has been purified by the plants; this keeps the tank water clean and healthy for the fish.

The types of plants that are grown in an aquaponics farm are generally herbs and vegetables. Because they are not treated with fertilizers and the usual garden chemicals, they are considered to be organic produce. The fish you buy to stock your tanks can be eating varieties and this gives you another product to sell. Both the fish and the vegetables grow at the same time, using the same system. Organic produce attracts a premium price at point of sale and is keenly sought by consumers.

The main advantages of starting an aquaponics farm as a business include the low start-up costs, low production costs and the ease with which the system can be managed. You don’t need to rent or buy any space to carry out your business as you can use space in your own yard, garage or other parts of your home. Organic produce is becoming a popular product, especially at farmers’ markets and other local events, so selling your product should be quite easy.

If you are looking for ways to bring in extra money or you want to start your own business, take a close look at how to start your own aquaponics business. You don’t need to be a gardener and you don’t need any specialised skills to succeed in this type of enterprise.

Commercial Aquaponics and Profitability

credit to http://www.greenacreaquaponics.com/

The commercial viability of aquaponics is likely the hottest contested topic on most aquaponic forums today and is the million dollar question that everyone wants answered. While I’m still not willing to make my financial data public (you would be amazed how many people have asked), I will say that we are indeed a profitable farm based on revenue generated by the farm alone. Although our farm’s revenue is derived in diverse ways, even after extracting any non farm related revenue from things such as consulting, education or system sales, our Green Acre farm is indeed profitable on it’s farm generated merits alone. So it then begs the question, why have alternate streams of revenue if farming alone can be profitable? For several reasons. Let’s take a look at each one.

Reason 1 - A business with multiple revenue streams is a more viable, resilient business model. Having multiple revenue streams means a business can be more nimble and weather setbacks more easily. Literally. Setbacks from the weather are a very real possibility and probability for any kind of farming venture unless you farm in a controlled environment setting but even in controlled ag, crop losses can occur due to pest damage or disease. However having multiple streams can help insure there is still cash flow when a crop loss occurs. This is especially important for the aquaponic farmer as crop insurance isn’t yet an option. 

Reason 2 - Direct farm generated revenue from crops is rarely a consistent amount and alternate streams can supplement in between crop harvests and rotations. This actually is probably a little less true in aquaponic farming then in traditional Ag where all of a farms revenue might come in a two month period when the watermelons are ready to harvest. For we aquaponic farmers though, a carefully planned crop schedule and rotation can help insure a constant and consistent harvest of some crops such as lettuce and herbs but even the revenue generated by these will fluctuate with the weather and season.

Reason 3 - Alternate streams of revenue can subsidize a small farm business while it grows its operation to a size large enough to generate enough revenue on farm sales alone.Ah, now this is the ultimate goal for us and most likely for most aquaponic farming hopefuls; have a farm large enough to pay all the bills and then some. It’s not that the farm is unsuccessful or not profitable right now but its simply not large enough yet to produce enough revenue to support two individuals entirely. Understand though that this is purely a function of not having enough start up or expansion capital for a small farm business to create a large enough farm right out of the gate. However, just because a farm’s revenue is limited due to grow space and production does not mean it’s not a profitable business.

Reason 4 - Alternate revenue streams can self fund farm growth and expansions. Lets face it, expanding an aquaponic farm can be pricey and certainly more then its soil counterpart. Have we stumbled on the one drawback of aquaponics? Perhaps, but I will save that discussion for another blog but adding on additional grow space can easily incur a capital outlay of $20k or more or as little as $15 a square foot just for the system or as much as $100 a square foot depending on how you build and source it. We would have to sell an awful lot of lettuce to fund expanding our farm from direct farm sales. Quite honestly, this is the single greatest driver for our alternate streams because our goal is to have enough grow space for the farm alone to support itself and us and so far 100% of our expansion has been self funded from alternate revenue streams.

How to Write a Business Plan

credit to http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/

Writing a business plan

Many potential start-up businesses are daunted by the prospect of writing a business plan. But it is not a difficult process - and a good business plan focuses the mind as well as helping to secure finance and support.

The business plan will clarify your business idea and define your long-term objectives. It provides a blueprint for running the business and a series of benchmarks to check your progress against. It is also vital for convincing your bank - and possibly key customers and suppliers - to support you.

This briefing explains:

• What information to include.
• How to present your financial forecasts.

1 Executive summary

The executive summary outlines your business proposal. Although it is the last section to be written, it goes on the first page of the business plan. It will be read by people unfamiliar with your business, so avoid jargon.

1.1 The executive summary highlights the most important points and shouldsum up six areas.

• Your product or service and its advantages.
• Your opportunity in the market.
• Your management team.
• Your track record to date.
• Financial projections.
• Funding requirements and expected returns.

1.2 When deciding whether to back a start-up, bank managers and investors often make provisional judgements based on the executive summary.

The main body of the business plan is then read to confirm the initial decision. The appendices at the back of the plan carry detailed information to support the main text.

2 The business

2.1 Explain the background to your business idea, including:

• The length of time you have been developing the business idea in its present form.
• Work carried out to date.
• Any related experience you have.
• The proposed ownership structure of the business.

2.2 Explain, in plain English, what your product or service is. Make it clear how:

• it will stand out as different from other products or services
• your customers will gain through buying your product or service
• the business can be developed to meet customers' changing needs in the future

It is important to cover any disadvantages or weak points you feel the business may have. Be frank about these - it inspires confidence.

2.3 Explain any key features of the industry (eg special regulations, effective cartels or major changes in technology).

3 Markets and competitors

3.1 Focus on the segments of the market you plan to target - for example, local customers or a particular age group.

• Indicate how large each market segment is and whether it is growing or declining.
• Illustrate the important trends - and the reasons behind them.
• Outline the key characteristics of buyers in each segment (eg age, sex or income).
• Mention customers you have already lined up and any sales you have already achieved.

3.2 What are the competing products and who supplies them?

• List the advantages and disadvantages of all your competitors and their products.
• Explain why people will desert established competitors and buy from you instead.
• Show you understand your competitors' reaction to losing business and demonstrate how you will respond to it.

Unless there is a viable market and you know how you are going to beat the competition, your business will be vulnerable.

You must show you have done the market research needed to justify what you say in the plan.

4 Sales and marketing

This section is crucial. It often gives a good indication of the business' chances of success.

4.1 How will your product or service meet your customers' specific needs?

4.2 How will you position your product?

• This is where you show how your price, quality, response time and after-sales service will compare with competitors.
• Quote minimum order figures, if appropriate.

4.3 How will you sell to customers?

• For example, by phone, through your website, face-to-face or through an agent.
• Show how long you predict each sale will take. Many new businesses underestimate the time involved in winning each order. In year one you may spend up to 80 per cent of your time making contacts and selling.
• Will you be able to make repeat sales? If not, it will be hard to build up volume.

4.4 Who will your first customers be?

• Show which customers have expressed an interest or promised to buy from you and the sales they represent.
• How will you identify potential customers?

Unless you can demonstrate that you have a clearly defined pool of potential customers, starting your business is likely to be a struggle.

4.5 How will you promote your product? For example, using advertising, PR, direct mail or via email and a website.

4.6 What contribution to profit will each part of your business make?

• Most businesses need more than one product, more than one type of customer and more than one distribution channel.
• Look at each in turn. Examine your likely sales, gross profit margins and costs.
• Identify where you expect to make your profits and where there may be scope to increase either margins or sales.

Services and intangible products (eg computer software) are more difficult to market. Start-ups in these areas must pay special attention to marketing in their business plans.

5 Management

People reading the business plan need to be given an idea of why they should have faith in the management of your start-up.

5.1 Outline the management skills within your team.

• Define each management role and who will fill it.
• Show your strengths and outline how you will cope with any weaknesses.
• Describe the background and experience of each team member.
• Clarify how you intend to cover the key areas of production, sales, marketing, finance and administration.
• Management information systems and procedures should be outlined. For example, management accounts, sales, stock control and quality control.
• Show how many 'mentors' and other supporters you will have access to.

5.2 How committed are you?

Banks and any other potential investors will want to be sure you are committed to the business. Show how much time and money each of the management team will contribute, and what your salaries and benefits will be.

6 Operations

Explain what facilities the business will have and how it will deliver the product or service to the customer.

6.1 Show the pros and cons of the location.

6.2 Indicate the facilities you will need to start (eg equipment and machinery). Some start-up businesses only need a desk and a phone.

Consider any potential limits to production capacity.

If you are going to manufacture or distribute products, show how and where you are going to warehouse them and for how long.

6.3 Provide a list of employee roles you need to fill and the skills required to fill them.

6.4 Show how you selected your suppliers.

Keep it real

Sales forecasts produced for start-up businesses are often over-optimistic. Here are some important reality checks.

• How soon can you start selling?
• Will potential customers hold off for a year before they take you seriously and place an order?
• How often will you be able to sell?
• How many days can you spend selling?
• How long will each lead take to line up?
• What percentage of leads will turn into sales?
• How much will you be able to sell?
• What will the average sale value be?
• Will most people give repeat orders, or must you find new customers each time?
• How long after a sale will it be before you can collect payment?
• How much income can you realistically expect each month?

7 Financial forecasts

Your financial forecasts translate what you have already said about your business into numbers.

7.1 A realistic sales forecast forms the basis for all your other figures.

Break the total sales figure down into its components (eg different types of products or sales to different types of buyer).

7.2 Your cashflow forecast shows how much money you expect to be flowing into and out of your bank account and when. You must show that your business will have access to enough money to survive.

• Demonstrate that you have considered the key factors affecting cashflow - eg level and timing of sales revenue, wages.
• Show when there will be more money coming in than going out ('cash-positive').

7.3 Your profit and loss (P&L) forecast gives a clear indication of how the business will move forward. Summarize the annual P & L forecast for each of the first two or three years of trading.

7.4 If you are launching a larger start-up, you will also need projected balance sheets.

These will show you the financial state of your business on day one and at year end, perhaps for the first two or three years.

7.5 Do not get too protective about your forecasts. You may need to revise them.

For every forecast, list all your key assumptions (eg prices, sales volume, timing). Small business advisers at banks and your local business support organisation will often help you put together your forecasts free of charge.

8 Financial requirements

The cashflow forecast will show how much finance the business needs. Your assessment of the risks will determine whether or not you need to arrange contingency financing.

8.1 Say how much finance you will want, when and in what forms.

For example, you might want a fixed-interest loan and an overdraft facility.

8.2 State what the finance will be used for.

Show how much will be for buying equipment and how much for working capital (financing stock and debtors).

8.3 Confirm that you will be able to afford it.

9 Assessing the risks

9.1 Look at the business plan and isolate areas where something could go wrong (eg if your main supplier closes down).

What you would do if it actually happens?

9.2 Consider a range of what-if scenarios (eg what happens to your cashflow if sales are 20 per cent lower or 15 per cent higher than forecast). If there are serious risks:

• you can arrange contingency funding to cover the finance you may need
• you may decide that the business is too risky and abandon the whole project.

Assessing risk will help you minimise problems and help build up your credibility with any investor or bank.

10Appendices

10.1 Detailed financial forecasts (monthly sales, monthly cashflow, P&L) should usually be put in an appendix.

Include a detailed list of assumptions.

For example, the profit margin on each product, debtor collection period, creditor payment period, stock turn, interest and exchange rates, equipment purchases.

10.2 You may want to give other relevant information.

• Detailed CVs of key personnel (essential if you are seeking outside funding).
• Market research data.
• Product literature or technical specs.
• Names of target customers.
• A list of external data sources used in your research will add credibility to the information.

11 Presenting the plan

The more solid information you can gather for your own use, the better the business plan will be. But a banker or other outsider will not have time to read through all the details.

11.1 Keep your business plan short.

Most business plans are too long. Focus on what the reader needs to know.

11.2 Make it professional.

• Put a cover on the business plan and give it a title.
• Include a contents page.

11.3 Test it.

• Re-read it yourself. Would reading your plan give an outsider a good feel for your business and a grasp of the key issues?
• Show the plan to friends and expert advisers and ask them for comments.

Aquaponics Garden in your house - AquaLibrium

The Aqualibrium Garden is an indoor ecosystem designed to grow fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowering plants in any home.

• Aquaponic and Hydroponic Gardening
• Food Grade, BPA-Free Plastic
• Adjustable for Larger Plants (e.g. Tomatoes)
• Snap-on Aquarium Window Covers and LED Grow Lights Included
• Beautiful Clear Design
• Aquaponic/Hydroponic Instruction Manual Provided

Plants require nutrients to grow. Aquaponics uses a closed loop ecosystem composed of a fish tank and a garden. The fish produce the nutrients that are cycled up to feed the garden. The plant roots then act as a bio-filter by soaking up nutrients. Finally, the water is cycled back down to the aquarium, fresh and clean for the fish. 

All that is needed to grow peppers, kale and eggplants in your Aqualibrium Garden is a few small fish from your local pet store. The Aqualibrium Garden can also be used as a hydroponic system. Hydroponic gardening allows you to use pre-bottled nutrients instead of fish. Sprinkle nutrients in the bottom portion of the Aqualibrium Garden a few times a week and you will have a fresh herbs and flowers in no time!

http://www.aqualibrium.com/

  

Aquaponics' Applications [1]

Educational Applications of Aquaponics

credit to Nelson Pade website

Aquaponics and hydroponics are both excellent means of demonstrating many principles of science, agriculture, math and business in all grade levels and for home schooling. Applications of these technologies are only limited by ones imagination.

A unit in hydroponics or aquaponics enforces practical uses of chemistry, mathematics, physics, economics and engineering. The monitoring and care of a hydroponic or aquaponic system by students helps instill a sense of responsibility, inspires creativity and creates excitement in the learning environment.

A small aquaponic garden can sit on a counter top and be used to demonstrate botany, horticulture, hydroponics (soil less plant culture), plant science, nutrition, physiology and care, nutrient and pH testing, pH relationships, plant usage of nutrients, seed germination, photosynthesis and light and plant development.

An aquaponic system combines hydroponics with aquaculture in a recirculating system. In addition to the plant sciences, aquaponics incorporates and demonstrates many of natures natural cycles, nitrification, biology, fish anatomy and nutrition and high-tech agriculture.

A unit in hydroponics or aquaponics can be started at the beginning of a semester and run through the entire semester, allowing the educator to present the individual concepts and lessons as the plants and fish develop and grow. A small hydroponic or aquaponic system can sit on a spare counter top. Larger systems can be placed on the floor of a classroom, in a windowsill or a greenhouse.
  

Different Types of Aquaponics Systems

There are three different types of aquaponics systems that have been developed for use by home gardeners and commercial enterprises. These are media based, NFT and Deep Flow or Raft systems and here is a description of each one.

Media-based: also known as the gravel bed system, the media-based aquaponics system is the simplest type to set up and can be used on a small or large scale. This is why it is the type most commonly used by backyard aquaponics enthusiasts. Containers are filled with small rocks, usually expanded clay pebbles which are porous to absorb water and air, and then seedlings are planted directly into these. Water from the fish tank is circulated through the container to allow the plants to access the nutrients. The rocks act as a biological filter as well as a solids filter, eliminating the need for extra equipment.

You can also use special netted growing pots for your seeds or seedlings. You fill these with perlite, coir, peat moss or the clay pebbles and plant into them. These pots are then placed into a larger container which has been filled with the expanding clay pebbles, making sure the netted sides are covered by the media. Media-based aquaponics systems hold plants firmly and so are ideal for growing fruiting plants.

There are two different ways this type of aquaponics system can be operated. The first method pumps a continuous flow of water through the media bed from the fish tank and back into the tank. The second is a process called flood and drain or ebb and flow, where water is pumped into the bed to a depth of about 10 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cms) and then drained away. A timer controls the flooding and draining sequence.

NFT system: or Nutrient Film Technique is a common method used in hydroponics that is best suited to a large-scale aquaponics production. This is because of the expense of setting up the system of PVC pipes and mechanical filtration needed to operate the system. Because there is not the surface area exposed to the air, as in the media-based system, a biological filter is needed to allow the beneficial bacteria to develop and convert the fish wastes into plant nutrients. Solids filtration is also needed to deal with the solids in the fish waste; this is usually set up in a separate tank through which the water passes before going through the plant pipes.

In the NFT system, plants are held in netted growing pots which are suspended through holes cut in the pipe. A thin film of nutrient-rich water is run along the bottom of enclosed gutters so that the roots can reach it. It is really only suited to plants that have a small root systems, such as leafy green vegetables.

Deep Flow: also called Deep Water Culture (DWC) or the Raft system, this is another commonly-used method in hydroponics. This system involves the use of a foam ‘raft’ that floats on top of the water. It is a popular choice for both commercial and backyard aquaponics because it is relatively cheap to set up and operate.

A container or channel is used to hold the water as it is pumped through from the fish tank, after it has been filtered to remove any solid waste. Plants are held in holes made in the raft, so their roots dangle down into the water. This method uses high volumes of water which provides stable water temperatures for the plants and fish. It is the method most often used in commercial aquaponics operations because of the ease with which the plants can be tended and harvested. Again, it is better suited to growing herbs and leafy green vegetables than plants with bigger root systems and fruiting varieties.

This type of system can easily be adapted for home garden use by simply floating a styrofoam tray on top of a fish tank. Just cut holes in the tray and suspend the plants, or plants in netting pots, through the holes so the roots are in contact with the water. Choose fish varieties that are not voracious plant eaters to avoid having plants’ roots eaten away.

Now that you understand how each of the 3 types of aquaponics systems operates, you will be in a better position to decide which one suits you the best. Whichever method you choose, it is best to start small so you can gradually build your expertise and experience before setting up a large system.

   

Aquaponics' Origin

Aquaponics, with its fancy name, may sound like a trendy new concept developed by environmentalists. But it's actually as old as the hills.

The origins of aquaponics can be traced to ancient Egyptian and Aztec cultures.

The ancient Aztecs developed chinampas, man-made floating islands, which consisted of rectangular areas of fertile land on lake beds.

Aztecs cultivated maize, squas­h and other plants on the chinampas and fish in the canals surrounding them.

The fish waste settled on the bottom of the canals, and the Aztecs collected the waste to use as fertilizer.

Additionally, countries in the Far East like Thailand and China have long used aquaponic techniques in rice paddies.

Aquaponics' Advantages - Commercially

credit to http://centerforaquaponics.com

Aquaponic systems possess many attractive commercial applications, as well as environmental and human health benefits, making them ideal for future use in developing regions of the world. Quantifiable results include:

• Additive water conservation benefits of recirculating aquaculture and hydroponics combined into an integrated waste free system. With uncertainty regarding water supplies and the population carrying capacity of arid regions of the world, water conservation practices may result in aquaponics replacing more traditional forms of food production. Additionally, the plant and microbial remediation of the fish effluent (waste) prevents environmental contamination (eutrophication) common with many forms of aquaculture.

• A controlled-environment greenhouse operation greatly increases the reliability of production while reducing the risk of environmental degradation such as non-native species introduction which is prevalent with other forms of agriculture. Through the prevention of greenhouse pest outbreaks the need for synthetic pesticides has been eliminated.

• Combining aquaculture and hydroponics technologies has demonstrated the potential to exceed the productivity and profitability of independently operated systems for a given resource constraint (land, water, capital).

• Unlike warm blooded food stocks, cultured aquatic species are not considered high probability vectors of zoonotic diseases to humans. They require fewer inputs (feed and time) than other livestock. The feed conversion ratio and carbon footprint for farmed fish is significantly less than other sources for animal protein.

• The technologies employed to run an aquaponics operation can be primitive and produced from a large range of readily available (post-consumer) materials. This lowers the overall environmental footprint of the design and broadens the availability of the technology to poorer regions of the world.

Aquaponics is Organic

Organic Grown Food

http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/torg.html

"Organically grown" food is food grown and processed using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Pesticides derived from natural sources (such as biological pesticides) may be used in producing organically grown food.

Organic Farming

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, genetically modified organisms, human sewage sludge, and nanomaterials.

Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organization for organic farming organizations established in 1972. IFOAM defines the overarching goal of organic farming as:

"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved..."

—International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

Organic Products 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&acct=nopgeninfo

Organic products have strict production and labeling requirements. Unless noted below, organic products must meet the following requirements:

- Produced without excluded methods; genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge.

- Produced per the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List).

- Overseen by a USDA National Organic Program authorized certifying agent,

- Following all USDA organic regulations.

An overview of labeling the various categories of organic products is provided below.

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL: portion of the package most likely to be seen by customers at the time of purchase.

INFORMATION PANEL: includes ingredient statement (list of ingredients contained in a product, from highest to lowest percentage of final product) and other product information.

100% Organic

Raw or processed agricultural products in the “100 percent organic” category must meet these criteria:

- All ingredients must be certified organic.

- Any processing aids must be organic.

- Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

An overview of labeling the various categories of 100% organic products is provided below.

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL: May include USDA organic seal and/or 100 percent organic claim.

INFORMATION PANEL: Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark.

Normal Organic

Raw or processed agricultural products in the “organic” category must meet these criteria:

- All agricultural ingredients must be certified organic, except where specified on National List.

- Non-organic ingredients allowed per National List may be used, up to a combined total of five percent of non-organic content (excluding salt and water).

- Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

An overview of labeling the various categories of normal organic products is provided below.

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL: May include USDA organic seal and/or organic claim.

INFORMATION PANEL: Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark.

Organic Certification

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification

Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, [food] processors, retailers and restaurants.

Requirements vary from country to country, and generally involve a set of production standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging and shipping that include:

• no human sewage sludge fertilizer used in cultivation of plants or feed of animals
• avoidance of synthetic chemical inputs not on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives, etc.), genetically modified organisms, irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge;
• use of farmland that has been free from prohibited synthetic chemicals for a number of years (often, three or more);
• keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail);
• maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products;
• undergoing periodic on-site inspections.

Aqua Vista Topic: Future of Farming #1

Looking at the past and current state of agriculture, we have come to the conclusion that it is failing to provide nutritious foods, it is insufficient to sustain us in the future and the ecological destruction caused my modern farming methods has taken an incredible toll on our planet. 

  

Dr. Despommier's solution is to utilize skyscrapers to grow food hydroponically in the middle of cities. According to Dr. Despommier, the vertical farm has a number of advantages over traditional agricultural methods used currently worldwide.

1. Year-round crop production. By growing crops inside controlled environments, crop production is not dependent upon the seasons. Instead of one season of tomatoes, staggered planted tomatoes can be harvested year round.

2. No Weather-related Crop Failures. By growing foods in controlled environments; droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural phenomena are irrelevant. 

3. New Employment Opportunities. When farming exists in a skyscraper there are plenty of job opportunities created in the cities. In the Vertical Farm, the crops exist in all of these stages all the time, necessitating the need for labour.

4. No Agricultural Runoff. "According to the USDA, Agricultural nonpoint source pollution is the primary cause of pollution in the U.S." - The Vertical Farm. By growing hydroponically in a controlled environment, these toxic chemicals are essentially unnecessary.

5. Allowance for Ecosystem Restoration. By moving agriculture into city skyscrapers, Dr. Despommier argues traditional agriculture won't be necessary and the land can be turned back over to nature for recovery.

6. Animal Feed from Post-harvest Plant Material. You don't eat all parts of a plant and what is leftover can be used as animal feed.

7. No Use of Pesticides, Herbicides, or Fertilizers. Guess what? There are no weeds to pull in hydroponic/aeroponic/aquaponic systems! So there's no water pollution caused by this method of farming.

8. Use of 70-95 percent less water. According to The Vertical Farm, "Today, traditional agriculture uses around 70 percent of all the available freshwater on earth, and in doing so pollutes it." Of all the benefits on this list, this is the most important of them all.

9. Purification of Grey Water to Drinking Water. Grey water reclamation will become an even hotter topic as the scarcity of clean water becomes more desperate. Plants provide a natural (bio) filtration process that can cleans the water.

10. Greatly reduced food miles. A common argument for alternative farming is that the average distance food travels from farm to table is 1500 miles, on average. The Vertical Farm proposes growing food in the centre of cities, drastically cutting this distance down.

11. More Control of Food Safety and Security. The Vertical Farm is designed using the same equipment hospitals use in intensive care units to prevent pathogens and pests from affecting the crops. Security is proposed to prevent people from sabotaging the environment produced.

credit to OHIO AQUAPONICS

Aquaponics + Farm Towers

Vertical Farms 
(credit to: http://www.verticalfarm.com )


Problem Statement

By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA).

Potential Solution

The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes, a wide variety of herbs, and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another 3 billion people. An entirely new approach to indoor farming must be invented, employing cutting edge technologies. The Vertical Farm must be efficient (cheap to construct and safe to operate). Vertical farms, many stories high, will be situated in the heart of the world's urban centers. If successfully implemented, they offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (year-round crop production), and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal farming.

Vertical Farms' Advantages

• Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre = 30 outdoor acres) 
• No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests 
• All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers 
• VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water 
• VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services 
• VF greatly reduces the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface 
• VF converts black and gray water into potable water by collecting the water of evapotranspiration 
• VF adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants and animals 
• VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.) 
• VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers 
• VF creates sustainable environments for urban centers 
• VF creates new employment opportunities 
• We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm indoors on earth 
• VF may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps 
• VF offers the promise of measurable economic improvement for tropical and subtropical LDCs. If this should prove to be the case, then VF may be a catalyst in helping to reduce or even reverse the population growth of LDCs as they adopt urban agriculture as a strategy for sustainable food production. 
• VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water and land for agriculture

Vertical Farms' Designs

Courtesy of: http://archdezart.com/2011/09/25/loft-london-farm-tower-competition/

 Courtesy of: http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_59707.shtml

Courtesy of: http://www.inspirationgreen.com/vertical-farms.html

Comment:

Farm Towers are nicely suited for Aquaponics system. The fish tanks would be located on the ground floor since it is where the sunlight is most deficient. The hydroponics will then occupy all the floors above it. Using minimal pumps, the water flow would be highly energy efficient since it travels back to the fish tank using gravity. In addition to that, the tower could also be energy independent if renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are tapped.

Aquaponics and Worms

Credit to Vermiaquaponics article by Great Lakes Aquaponics
http://greatlakesaquaponics.wikispaces.com/Vermiaquaponics

Vermiaquaponics is actually a word my father and I invented. It is in laymans terms the same thing as aquaponics but with a combination of worm breeding. You use the worm castings to make a nutrient tea which is then used to feed the plants through their roots directly and in the form of foliar feeding. Foliar feeding is when you feed a plant through its leaves. You spray the tea onto the leaves directly and the goal is to have the nutrients be absorbed in more than one way. Then the worms themselves are used to feed the fish thus eliminating some of the cost of fish feed, and making these aquaponic systems more self sustainable.

Vermiaquaponics will soon become the future of aquaponics. In a way many people use certain aspects of it by feeding their plants with extra micronutrients and such.(for example chelated iron, manganese, zinc, etc) But what makes this version so unique is that it will help eliminate the cost of fish feed which becomes an enormous expense. In addition you are feeding your fish great protein which should theoretically help them to grow faster and bigger. Although worms do not give fish 100% of their diet, and are nearly 90% composed of water, so supplements will be required. So essentially your getting your fish wish less cost improving your profit. 


One concern I have about this new form of growing is when it gets to the commercial scale. Places like the University of the Virgin Islands are harvesting over 5 tons of fish annually and in order for something like this to be beneficial to them you would need a very vast number of worms. Making vermiaquaponics less practical on a commercial scale but definately beneficial on the hobby scale. Something to consider if trying to convert from aquaponics to vermiaquaponics is that you will need the space to grow your worms, and to make sure you will have enough worms to be able to integrate this technology into aquaponics.

The focus on vermiaquaponics is to not incorporate it in systems producing such high quantities of fish. For the Urban Farmer, primary focus should be on plant growth in order to make profit. Using as little fish as possible and supplementing with tea will reduce other costs. The key is to get the right number of fish to plant growth ratio and also adding the vermiaquaponics side of the equation. When all these numbers can be worked out maximum plant growth to cost can be achieved giving you maximum profit.

Aquaponics Technology

Harmonising Nature and Technology with Aquaponics

 

Born from the abstract philosophy of ecocentric ideals, aquaponics has emerged at the very frontier of agricultural technology. Yet, many years after the modern concept was first realised it has yet to receive the commercial recognition that might unlock its true potential, writes Adam Anson, reporting for TheFishSite.

By definition, aquaponics is the symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment. What it could offers to the world of aquaculture and agriculture is hugely promising, yet its name is rarely uttered within the food sector.

Advocates of aquaponics will say that a well balanced system could eradicate the costs of feed, supplements, continuous employment and waste management. In return, providing a variety of high quality, natural food products in high yielding quantities, but the reality of the technology in practise today adheres to few of these promises.

Modern aquaponic systems usually take place within greenhouses in order to maximise conditions. Water from the fish tank is filtered and recirculated by the biological methods of the plant. Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and phosphorus are stripped away and then the freshly cleansed water is recirculated back into the fish tanks. In return, nutrients generated from fish manure, algae, and decomposing fish feed - that would be toxic to the fish - serve as liquid fertilizer to hydroponically grown plants.

Essentially what these systems create is a self sustaining renewable system that does not require fertilisers for the plants, or fresh water for the aquatic animals. Current systems still require the addition of fresh salt and water replacement for evaporation and plant uptake, but in principle even these inputs could be eliminated.

Practical Uses

 

The use of aquaponics is not a new idea. Some people point back to ancient Egypt when tracing its roots, but a modern view of aquaculture stems from the permaculture movement that began as an agro-ecological design theory in the 1970's.

Developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, the idea was used to create stable agricultural systems. This was a result of their perception of a rapidly growing use of destructive industrial-agricultural methods. Since then, aquaponics has become a movement in its own right, serving as a model of sustainable food production for both land-based and aquatic organisms.

A recent publication by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) took a look at present day aquaponic systems in the US and current research into the production methods. According to the publication, Aquaponics - Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture, farmers are beginning to take an increasing interest in aquaponics due to the low input and waste management costs and also the green credentials that they provide.

For all its potential aquaponics must currently utilise complex technology and the skilled ability of workers to simultaneously monitor, manage and market the different types of agricultural products it creates. However, recent innovations have transformed aquaponic technology into a viable system of food production, claims the report. These systems can be highly successful, but they still require special considerations. Knowledge of both hydroponics and aquaculture are currently essential to the management of an efficient system.

Not all plants are adapted to strive in aquaponic greenhouses. Similarly, nor are all aquatic creatures suited to aquaculture systems. Furthermore, those plants and fish often require specific conditions to strive. pH, temperature, oxygen levels, feed are just some of the aspects that must be managed for optimum growth. It is the bringing together of these right conditions that makes aquaponics so difficult.

On top of that, managers must also harmonise the stocking densities of the chosen plants and animals. "Matching the volume of fish tank water to volume of hydroponic media is known as component ratio", explain the report. "Early aquaponics systems were based on a ratio of 1:1, but 1:2 is now common and tank: bed ratios as high as 1:4 are employed. The variation in range depends on type of hydroponic system (gravel vs. raft), fish species, fish density, feeding rate and plant species,"

However, if the basic set up of the system is correct, yields can more than compensate for the hard work. Not only will the input cost be minimised, but also the value of the product will be high. Products should be well managed and healthy, containing no artificial chemicals, or hormones and having no adverse effect upon the environment.

The products can then be marketed as organic and in return demand a greater price at market. Unfortunately, although organic aquaculture has a valued market in many countries, there has been no global consensus on its definition and a US Department of Agriculture accredited organic label has remained entirely allusive. For this reason, a movement towards organic aquaculture has been severely hampered.

Not So Radical Thinking

 

In many ways, the complexity of aquaponics requires an understanding of all life. Farmers must engineer a whole ecosystem that caters for the need of all the plants and animals that live within it. And yet, essentially, aquaponics lets nature do what it does best by allowing it to deal with the complex underworld of interactions, soil structures and micro-organisms that we really do not understand. Rather than attempt to bend nature to the whim of human knowledge, it realigns our knowledge on its path.

Aquaponics should not be judged and seen merely through the green-tinted lenses of eco-friendly eyes, it should be mutually acknowledged for the advantages it can provide on economic, health and market grounds. Not only does it harmonise yield products, but it also fuses natural processes with highly advanced technological ones to derive the best of both.

Unfortunately, with the rapid advancement of huge machines and intensive monoculture operations behind us, it can be difficult to look again and see a natural agricultural process take its place and be just as efficient. But time and again, the problems that intensive operations encounter have proved difficult to overcome with manmade contraptions. Nature already has the answers to most of our problems, it is merely learning to see and listen to them that often hinders our advancement. 

credit to:
http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/570/harmonising-nature-and-technology-with-aquaponics

Aquaponics DIY

If you love to garden and the idea of growing your own vegetables sounds appealing but you have limited space or no access to fertile soil then an aquaponics DIY garden may be what you are looking for.

Aquaponics systems can be as small as an aquarium purchased at a pet store or as large as a commercial system with several acres. The system concept is the same just on a much larger or smaller scale.

If you live in an apartment and have limited space the ideal solution would be an aquaponics kit which may be a turnkey solution, you will have to add the water, plants and fish. If you have a larger space to work with you will be able to design a larger system with room for expansion.

Either way you will be able to grow your own vegetables or herbs and they will be at your fingertips year round.

An aquaponics DIY system can be an enjoyable hobby that will provide you with fresh herbs or plants. However if space is not an issue you would be able to produce enough vegetables to feed an entire family year round.

The idea of growing your own vegetables may be appealing just from the money you would save yearly but there is another benefit you will be able to control the quality of the food you will be producing and due to the recent food contamination scares that is a very appealing thought.

It is important to be realistic about your aquaponics DIY system because you are not going to save hundreds of dollars per year from an aquarium size system, which would be considered more of a hobby than a vegetable producing empire. However if you are ambitious and have the resources not only would you be able to produce enough foodstuffs for your consumption but you would also be able to profit from selling the excess.

It would be wise to invest in a step by step guide to help you get your system off the ground but will also help avoid any pitfalls that you might not think of in advance.

Reference : http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/