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| (Hydroponic Basil Grown at Continental Organics) |
Yesterday marked the beginning of
the Aquaculture Short Course. A general introduction was given by Dr. Timmons
and Dr. Ebeling and course materials were distributed.
Guest
speaker Dr. Charles Cleland, Director of the U.S. Department of Agiculture Small
Business Innovation Research (USDA SBIR, SBIR) Program, discussed features and
objectives of SBIR. SBIR was started in 1983 to provide support for applied
science technology, more specifically for services that benefit some aspect of
agriculture or rural development. With a budget of $2 billion +, SBIR provides
large grants to research organizations, foundations and businesses (Phase I, an
eight- month period, offers a $100,000 grant while the two year period, Phase
2, offers a $450,000 grant.). Solicitations are released on an annual basis and
hundreds of proposals are submitted. The program is highly competitive with a
15% success rate.
SBIR has been involved with
numerous aquaculture projects. One success story involves the development of
improved biofilters for recirculating aquaculture systems. Biofilters effectively
facilitate the removal of ammonia via biofiltration—a process in which aerobic bacteria break ammonia
into nitrites and then into nitrates. By supporting research and engineering of
new agricultural and environmental based technologies, SBIR enables
advancements that will improve environment conditions, support human health and
help strengthen communities worldwide.
During the afternoon Dr. Timmons
and Dr. Ebeling dived into discussing various system designs and methods of
aquaculture. Through their discussion, each method and design was evaluated
considering economic and environmental factors. Timmons and Ebeling also
discussed procedures for modeling inputs and outputs of a system, analyzing
growth rate and determining ideal fish species/ effective methods of
installation.
Later that evening the class took a
trip to Continental Organics, a commercial aquaponics facility in New Windsor,
NY where Thomas Endres, COO of Continental Organics and Kevin Ferry, the general
manager of Continental Organics, showed the class around the facility.
Unfortunately Michael Finnegan, CEO of Continental Organics, was unable to
attend. Both Endres and Finnegan are graduates of the Cornell University
“Recirculating Aquaculture Systems” short course.
Continental Organics is a service-disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, committed to producing fresh, locally grown food via hydroponic, aquaponic (hydroponics + aquaculture) and conventional methods of organic farming. All products are antibiotic and hormone free. The aquaponic farm is housed entirely indoors, with underground pipelines connecting the hydroponic greenhouse to an enclosed aquaculture system (designed by Dr. Timmons). Once in full production, the facility is estimated to produce roughly 120,000 pounds of fish per year.
After a wonderful dinner, courtesy
of Continental Organics, and day of valuable learning, the class returned to
the dorms.
For More Information about Continental Organics visit:
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