Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just to keep the scorecard straight. Will Allen is at Growing Power in Milawaukee, WI. Sweet Water Organics is also in Milwaukee trying to grow yellow perch and lettuce in an old industrial bldg. This pair is located in an old industrial bldg in Racine, WI. They are growing lettuce and tilapia. They spend 40 cents in electricity to grow a head of lettuce they sell for $1.50 to retailers. That does not include the annual cost of grow bulbs or equipment depreciation. The trick is maintaining high vegetable prices when you start to produce in volume. Because $1.50 is a lot of money for a head of bibb lettuce. I'm a supporter of aquaponics, but they want to raise $6 million dollars to fill 200,000 square feet of space with aquaponics equipment to grow the equivalent of 40 acres of vegetables and employ 50 people. The math makes no sense, but it looks like a lot of fun. Best of luck to 'em.


http://www.jsonline.com/business/98569659.html

I think things are just heading a little off course there. 40c in electricity per head of lettuce? Man, then you have fish feed, water, rent, rates, wages, packaging, marketing, insurances, etc.

There is a huge net energy loss when growing lettuce which has very low nutritional content, under lights in an urban setting like this. If it is commercially viable, then I think that speaks volumes about how mucked up our whole system is.

Like you Joel....I can't see how it can possibly be commercially viable...