Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

As to my comment on this, this is the call I get:

"Hi this is so and so from Santacruz Sentinal, can I ask you a few questions?"
"have you heard about this new AP instillation in California? It's going to be the biggest in the world! They are growing sturgeon in 40-50, 200 gal tanks and will be harvesting caviar in 3 years, main crop is lettuce. It's run by a construction worker who quit his day job, teamed up with a wealthy investor and they say they have created a working model that is going to take the world by storm! They're also going to be teaching courses at their facility..."

I'm sorry but I think I let out an audible laugh after hearing this... Sturgeon in 200 gal tanks? Caviar in 3 yrs? A model everyone is going to copy but they aren't producing yet?

Every week I hear about the new "biggest AP install in the world". I didn't know any names of people involved, didn't know anything else about the design other than what was mentioned and sorry to say but it didn't sound like a recipe for success. I also talked to them for about 15-20 min about my thoughts on the commercialization of AP, and they took like 2 lines for there article. I agree it came off fairly negative which was not my intention but seeing as how the article was written it seems that was the writers intention all along (who was laughing telling me she doubts this will be around in another year!). So many people are trying to get that badge of honor that says "biggest in the world!" and invest a ton of money into large systems but then they go and design them using backyard principles.

Do I think large scale AP is possible? Sure do... But its going to be from someone that has designed it using known and proven Aquaculture, Hydroponic, and Aquaponic techniques, technologies and theories.

I also believe in the decentralization of farming and in bringing local farms back to a profitable enterprise. It's never going to be easy to compete with a guy that is farming 500 acres of field lettuce on the commercial market. If we prove the nutritional quality of local grown AP produce, the health benefits of fresh produce, carbon footprint reduction, local job creation, water reduction and sustainability of what we are doing....I think the future is bright.