Progress report for LNE23-460
Project Information
Problem or Opportunity and Justification:
The growing trend for local and sustainable food production systems has increased interest in urban/peri-urban agriculture. Urban growers seek to achieve triple-bottom-line impacts from their farms: to generate profits, provide food, and benefit the environment. However, limited land and soil restrict the production necessary to expand food access in communities and generate enough income for a profitable enterprise.
Aquaponic farming is a promising solution to space and soil limitations, with minimal environmental impacts. Aquaponics is a soilless farming method that combines aquaculture (produce fish in a recirculating system) and hydroponics (produce vegetables in a soilless environment). Aquaponics’ circular production system recycles nutrients and water, thus reducing wastewater and fertilizer costs.
Although there is growing interest, the number of aquaponic farms in the US is small, and crop and fish varieties are limited. Growers in the Northeast seek more lucrative fish species to raise, requiring updated local research on what fish and crops will be most financially viable to growers in the Chesapeake Bay region.
High start-up costs are prohibitive for limited-resource farmers and farmers from historically underserved communities, while ongoing production costs and price competition create barriers to profitability. Further, farmers are unclear on what permits and regulations apply to aquaponic farms in Maryland, adding to accessibility barriers to implementing aquaponics.
Solution and Approach:
To achieve financial sustainability, farmers need research-based training and technical assistance to develop low-cost aquaponic enterprises, to assess and access direct markets for their products, and to choose the right fish and crop species to produce for those markets.
Through peer learning groups and participatory research, farmers will acquire skills to design, build, and manage aquaponic systems, helping to reduce start-up costs and achieve efficient use of natural resources. We will assist farmers to navigate permits and regulations in real time, develop an aquaponics business plan and budget, conduct market research and choose the right fish and crop species to produce for those markets.
Activities will generate new resources for an area of agriculture that is not yet well researched or resourced. Knowledge gained will improve environmental and economic performance of aquaponic systems, enabling broader adoption of aquaponic methods and increased food production for community and economic growth in Maryland. By identifying the right choice for cash crops and high-revenue fish species while reducing start-up costs, we will improve aquaponics' financial sustainability.
The research and educational materials developed throughout this project will continue to assist farmers in Maryland and throughout the Northeast after the lifecycle of this grant.
5 farmers will adopt aquaponics as a food production method over a total of 5,000 sq. ft (total across all 5 farmers) using DIY construction methods, saving $20,000 each in start-up costs.
The growing trend for local and sustainable food production systems has increased interest in urban/peri-urban agriculture. Urban growers seek to achieve triple-bottom-line impacts from their farms: to generate profits, provide food, and benefit the environment. However, limited land and soil restrict the production necessary to expand food access in communities and generate enough income for a profitable enterprise.
Aquaponic farming is a promising solution to space and soil limitations, with minimal environmental impacts. Aquaponics is a soilless farming method that combines aquaculture (produce fish in a recirculating system) and hydroponics (produce vegetables in a soilless environment). Aquaponics’ circular production system recycles nutrients and water, thus reducing wastewater and fertilizer costs.
Although there is growing interest, the number of aquaponic farms in the US is small, and crop and fish varieties are limited. Growers in the Northeast seek more lucrative fish species to raise, requiring updated local research on what fish and crops will be most financially viable to growers in the Chesapeake Bay region.
High start-up costs are prohibitive for limited-resource farmers and farmers from historically underserved communities, while ongoing production costs and price competition create barriers to profitability. Further, farmers are unclear on what permits and regulations apply to aquaponic farms in Maryland, adding to accessibility barriers to implementing aquaponics.
Research
Original proposal:
Will callaloo/amaranth greens (Amaranthus tricolor), and gailan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra), produce a higher yield and better economical return than lettuce (Lactuca sativa) using the effluent of aquaponic systems?
Will Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) produce a higher yield and better economical return than tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) produced in recirculating systems?
2023 update:
The research component of the project have not started yet. We are planning to implement the first on campus research experiment around March 2024.
The first experiment will focus on demonstrating the second variable, that Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) produce a higher yield and better economical return than tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). For the aquaponic systems where these two fish species will be used, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) will be produced.
Original proposal:
This project includes an applied research component that supports the education program. The research component and use of the mentioned species responds to local farmers’ concerns in using crops that will provide them with highest returns. The research component has three parts:
- On campus, in an aquaponics research greenhouse, evaluate and compare the production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), callaloo/amaranth greens (Amaranthus tricolor), and gailan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra), using the effluent of aquaponic systems, where tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) will be cultured.
- Off campus, on two aquaponic farms, evaluate and compare the production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), callaloo/amaranth greens (Amaranthus tricolor), and gailan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra), using the effluent of aquaponic systems, where tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) will be cultured.
- Compile a list of the regulatory and permit requirements in the state of Maryland to establish an aquaponic farm, to assist farmers to become aquaponic producers.
Part 1.
The production of three vegetable crops, considered valuable for farmers in the Northeast US will be studied because no protocol has been found that can promote the specific growth patterns and differences of two (potentially) highly marketable products, Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and Gailan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). Each crop yields a different value per unit area, and this is what the study will focus on when selecting varieties to produce to provide the highest returns to the farmer. Amaranth and Gailan were selected for study because in a survey of Northeast US urban growers, respondents ranked specialty crops and ethnic heritage crops as the third most popular topic about which they want more education (pest management and soil health ranked 1st and 2nd; Richardson et al. unpublished data). These two crops are traditionally grown and eaten by the African diaspora and Asian diaspora, respectively. Additionally, they are not currently grown by large-scale hydroponic farmers in Maryland, creating a potential market niche for small-scale aquaponic producers.
The experiments on crop production will be conducted under protected conditions during year 1 in the newly constructed aquaponics greenhouse at the University of Maryland, College Park, using 6 recirculating aquaponic systems. Each system contains: one 950-liter fish tank, and two deep water grow beds with floating rafts totaling 3.34 square meter, and one AST Endurance 2000 bio-filter. The source of light will be natural solar radiation, while the relative humidity and temperature control will be controlled through ventilation.
Seeds will be germinated, and seedlings will be raised in a germination bed using rockwool and when ready (1–2 sets of true leaves had developed and the roots had grown to surround the media), transferred to the growing beds. Plant seeds and fish fingerlings will be acquired from reputable breeders.
For the experimental design, we will make a paired comparison between our two species of fish by randomly choosing three fish tanks for Tilapia and three for Yellow Perch. While fish are growing, in the twelve growing beds, we will run three consecutive crop cycles. Each time we will use randomized complete blocks for the three treatments (crops) with four replicates each.
The parameters determined during the study, will consider four aspects:
1) Those that will indicate the aquaponic systems performance through measuring water quality: Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, measured twice a week and TAN (total nitrogen ammonia), nitrites, and nitrates, measured once a week; 2) Variables that help to determine fish production will be fish size, initial and final weight; 3) Those variables that will provide a common point for comparison among crops, hence influencing the value of a crop, density (plants/m2), yield (unit or kg), production period (weeks) and unit value ($); and 4) Monitoring of the produce prices that will be obtained from the USDA/Agricultural Marketing Services (2022). The most frequently occurring low price and high price will be sorted from each products’ weekly prices as representative of the price most likely to be received by a farmer. Additionally, farmer participants in the peer-learning groups will participate in the market portion of this research by conducting local customer discovery interviews and exploring existing data for market research.
To evaluate the difference of fish yield t-test will be used. To calculate the overall performance of the different treatment crops, a one-way analysis of variance will be carried out. Treatment means will be compared, and differences between means will be determined by Tukey’s multiple range test at the 5% significance level. To determine the Expected value of the crops, we will calculate $/m2/week using these two formulas:
1) Value ($/m2) = Value ($/kg) * Yield (kg/m2); and 2) Expected Value ($/m2/week) = Value ($/m2) ÷ Weeks in cultivation. Where Value ($/kg) is the crop value of weekly low and high prices, Yield (kg/m2) is the biomass harvested for the crop during research trials in the aquaponic systems, and Weeks in cultivation is the time between transplanting seedlings and harvest of the plant or removal of the plant after multiple harvests.
Part 2.
During years 2 and 3 the applied research will be conducted in 2 aquaponic farms of newly established aquaponic farmers. Like the study in the research greenhouse, in the aquaponic farms, we will compare production of tilapia and yellow perch and three different crops. Experimental design will be different, since each farm will have two fish tanks (one for Tilapia and one for Yellow Perch) and two (5.5 m x 1.8 m) deep water systems. In each deep-water system, we will have 9 (1.8 m x 0.6 m) Styrofoam rafts that will accommodate 3 replicates of each treatment.
All the parameters considered for part 2 of the study will be the same as in part 1, measured with the same frequency.
The collected data will be analyzed using the same statistical methods used in part 1.
Part 3.
This part of the research refers to a literature review to be performed to gather as much information as possible on the regulatory and permit requirements in the state of Maryland (or other states) to establish an aquaponic farm, mainly in urban areas. The Extension Program Assistant will identify permits and regulations relevant to aquaponic farms by interviewing the agricultural service providers on the Project Advisory Committee, by reading publications written by the Maryland Agricultural Law Education Initiative, and by reading Maryland regulatory websites. The data collected, being a set of legal regulations, crop yields and plant quality index, and fish yields, will be relevant for farmers to know what is necessary to become aquaponic producers and what would be a better option on crop and fish production.
2023 update:
Part 1:
The final phase of the aquaponic greenhouse construction at UMD, College Park has been delayed due to an ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The Israeli company we're collaborating with was not able to cover the entire cost ($20,000) for the installation of the climate control panel to be done by a contracting company. We were able to reallocate funds from this project ($10,000) to cover the gap. The final phase of the construction is predicted to be complete by the end of January, 2024.
Part 2:
Nothing to report.
Part 3:
While working on getting all the necessary paperwork to establish the aquaponic greenhouse on campus, we learned that Aquaculture and Aquaponic facilities in Maryland require an aquaculture permit. The UMD aquaponic greenhouse has already received the permit and this experience will be valuable to guide future aquaponic producers participating in our project.
2023 update:
No results have been obtained on 2023.
2023 update:
No results have been obtained on 2023.
Education
Original proposal:
The population for this project is current and aspiring urban and peri-urban farmers in Maryland. A total of 100 farmers will participate in education activities. Participants will be recruited from farmers who have reached out to us with aquaponics questions, through UMD Extension’s Urban Agriculture and Beginning Farmer mailing lists (2,000+ subscribers), and other online advertisements.
We will form and facilitate peer-learning groups of 3 to 6 farmers, including the farmers who will host on-farm research and demonstration (see below). These groups will meet quarterly to learn how to construct and maintain aquaponic production systems and to assess different potential crop and fish enterprises by conducting customer discovery interviews and calculating enterprise budgets. They will visit the farm of our farmer consultant, Levi Sellers, South Mountain MicroFARM for up to a week of training on his equipment. They will also assist with construction of the on-farm demonstrations.
We will develop five research-based Extension factsheets on the following topics: (1) regulations and permits relevant to aquaponic farming, (2) market opportunities for the crops and fish under study, (3) cropping plans for aquaponic production, (4) an example nutrient management plan (plans are required for MD farms), (5) enterprise budgets for aquaponic crop and fish options. We will develop an aquaponics Frequently Asked Questions section on the Extension website. We will also produce video tours of the aquaponic demonstration systems, and how-to videos about construction and maintenance.
Using the information gathered above, we will hold public workshops and classes to demonstrate aquaponic production systems and teach about marketing and financial assessment. These will include tours of the research and demonstration aquaponic systems on campus and on farms.
We will demonstrate aquaponic technology at the UMD campus research greenhouse and by constructing two on-farm demonstrations of how to build low-cost aquaponic systems using do-it-yourself materials. The student research technician on campus and the Extension Program Assistant will act as technical support for farmers throughout the project. Through system construction workshops and farm field days, participants will learn how to construct aquaponic systems using do-it-yourself materials, greatly reducing the start-up costs associated with launching an aquaponic enterprise.
Participants in peer-learning groups will take actions as part of the program. For example, during one group meeting they will learn how to conduct customer discovery interviews and draft their own interview questions. They will commit to conducting customer discovery interviews and reporting back to the group at the next meeting. A learning contract worksheet will be used as an evaluation tool to help participants commit to next steps and to assess their progress, and to enable the project team to document actions taken and outcomes achieved by the participants.
The participants’ work on market research and on developing financial projections will interconnect with the research component of the project. They will visit the research greenhouse on campus, be kept updated on preliminary research results, and incorporate the crop and fish species under research into their marketing and financial projection exercises. This combination of physical science research and participant customer discovery will enable a broader adoption of aquaponic methods and the right choice of cash crops and fish species.
End of training and follow-up evaluations will be used with both the small peer-learning groups and the public workshops to assess knowledge gain and actions taken. We will secure UMD Institutional Review Board approval for these evaluations.
To incentivize investing their time in the learning process, peer-learning group participants will be provided an annual membership to the Aquaponics Association. This will give them access to a technical assistance message board where aquaponic producers help each other troubleshoot challenges and share experience. At the end of the project, five participants who launch aquaponic enterprises (or make the most progress towards that goal), will be given water quality monitoring probes to help them successfully manage their aquaponic systems.
Overall, 100 farmers will participate in educational and training programs.
Educational videos and online factsheets will be accessed by 200 viewers.
2023 update:
In 2023 we prepared educational materials, recruited farmer training participants, and launched the farmer peer learning group program.
Material preparation:
- Shared draft evaluations with advisory committee, revised based on their feedback, and secured human research IRB approval for evaluation methods and instruments
- Hired student worker to assist with developing educational materials
- Shared draft learning objectives with advisory committee and revised based on their feedback. Identified key sub-topics and existing educational materials for each of the 6 learning objectives: 1 how to construct and maintain aquaponic systems; 2 how to monitor water quality; 3 how to manage plant nutrients; 4 how to navigate permits and regulations; 5 how to conduct market research; 6 how to assess aquaponic enterprise financial viability.
- Leveraged external funding to print UN FAO aquaponics textbooks for farmer participants
- Wrote factsheet on how to build a Do-It-Yourself
Recruitment:
- Advertised aquaponic farmer learning group through the Maryland Beginning Farmer Success newsletter (793 subscribers), the Maryland Urban Agriculture E-news newsletter (1,500 subscribers), Extension entrepreneurial coaching clients (50), social media, and through direct emails to known aspiring aquaponic farmers who had previously contacted the team for technical assistance (9 individuals, 1 of whom shared the recruitment with 25 other aspiring farmers), and through partner organizations such as CASA Maryland and a Veterans Administration outpost in Southern Maryland.
- Received 74 applications to participate.
- Selected from applicants to create a group of participants with a variety of years of experience, access to land, and diverse backgrounds.
- Farming experience: 27% of participants have been farming for 6 years or more, 45% have been farming between 1 and 5 years, 27% of participants are not farming yet but want to start (aspiring farmers).
- Aquaponic experience: 2 participants (from the same farm) are currently using aquaponic methods, 1 participant is volunteering on an aquaponic farm, 2 participants are currently using hydroponic methods alone (no aquaculture). The rest (77%) have minimal experience with aquaponic farming methods.
- Land/space access: 77% of participants currently have access to land or a space in which to farm
- Admitted 22 farmer participants representing 20 farms (when 2 farming partners applied together, we admitted them together). We had originally proposed to train 10 farmers. We decided to expand to 20 farms, to maximize the access to our training, while maintaining a small enough group to have a high quality hands-on experience.
- We did not receive any applications from participants who prefer to learn in Spanish. We plan to launch the current cohort and then conduct a second outreach campaign through Hispanic/Latine agricultural organizations, to recruit participants for a second, Spanish-speaking cohort.
Launching training program
- Held first quarterly farmer peer learning group meeting online. Orientated participants to the timeline and expectations of the educational program. Administered consent process and intake evaluations.
- Created course website using the software Canvas.
- Scheduled next quarterly class in February 2024.
Milestones
Milestone 1 - Engagement and Evaluation (May 15, 2023) Project advisory committee (3 farmers, 3 service providers) meet to review draft evaluation instruments, on campus and off campus research plans and project timeline. Co-PI Little will revise evaluations based on their feedback and submit for UMD IRB review and approval. PI Izursa submits IACUC protocol for review and approval.
Milestone 2 - Engagement (Jun. 30, 2023) 700 farmers learn about the aquaponic peer-learning groups. This will be tracked by Co-PI Little and by the Extension Program Assistant via email read receipts from direct emails to respondents to the aquaponic education interest survey conducted in 2022 and by newsletter open rates for the Urban Agriculture E-Newsletter and the Beginning Farmer Newsletter. Outreach will also be conducted to Spanish-speaking populations through social media posts, through partner organizations mailing lists (such as the Maryland Hispanic Business Association, CASA de Maryland, and the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association), and through physical flyers posted in community locations, but tracking views of these outreach efforts will be more challenging. On-campus research starts.
Milestone 3 - Learning and Evaluation (2023: Sept. 30, Dec. 31; 2024: Mar. 30, Jun. 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31; 2025: Mar. 30, Jun. 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31) 10 farmers will meet quarterly in peer-learning groups. PI Izursa, co-PI Little, the Extension Program Assistant, the student workers, and an experienced farmer will teach and the farmers will work together in a community of practice. All 10 farmers will learn how to construct and maintain aquaponic systems, how to monitor water quality, how to manage plant nutrients, and how to navigate permits and regulations. The same 10 farmers will complete the beginning stages of assessing and planning aquaponic enterprises: conduct customer discovery interviews, calculate enterprise budgets to compare crop and fish options, and draft financial projections.
Milestone 4 - Engagement (Dec. 31, 2023 - recurring) This will occur twice per year until the project’s end in 2026. Project advisory committee (3 farmers, 3 service providers) meets to advise on educational material development and research progress.
Milestone 5 - Engagement (Dec. 31, 2023; Dec. 31, 2025 - recurring) 700 farmers each year learn about aquaponic research and demonstration field days. Outreach will be conducted and monitored as described in milestone 2.
Milestone 6 - Learning and Evaluation (Mar. 30, 2024; Mar. 30, 2025; Mar. 30, 2026) Not including the peer-learning group participants, each year 30 farmers (90 total) will attend field days where they will learn about how to construct and maintain aquaponic systems, about water quality monitoring and nutrient management, about crop and fish options for aquaponic production, about marketing their products, and about regulations and permits relevant to aquaponic farming.
Milestone 7 - Learning and Evaluation (Mar. 30, 2024; Mar. 30, 2025; Mar. 30, 2026) 60 farmers (67%) of the attendants to the field days (milestone 6) will complete the beginning stages of assessing and planning aquaponic enterprises: conduct customer discovery interviews, calculate enterprise budgets to compare crop and fish options, and design an aquaponic system. Participants will complete end-of-workshop surveys to evaluate their knowledge gains and intentions to act on what they have learned.
Milestone 8 - Research (Mar. 2024; Mar. 2025) Off-campus year one research starts in March 2024 and year two off-campus research starts in March 2025.
Milestone 9 - Learning (Mar. 30, 2026) By the end of the project period, 200 farmers will view or download the educational materials (factsheets, articles, and videos) developed and posted online as a result of this project. This will be tracked by the Extension Program Assistant by website pageviews, video playbacks, and newsletter clicks.
Milestone 10 - Learning and evaluation (Mar. 30, 2026) By the end of the project period, 5 farmers will have launched aquaponic enterprises. Learning contract worksheets will be used to help participants commit to taking these actions, and to evaluate and assess their progress.
Milestone 11 - End of the project (Nov. 30, 2026) end of grant period.
2023 update:
Five out of the eleven milestones were supposed to start or being completed in 2023. And those are the ones we are updating below.
Milestone 1 - Engagement and Evaluation
- Project advisory committee met to review the evaluation instruments and project timeline on 05/03/2023
- Evaluations were revised and submitted for UMD IRB review and approval was received on 09/13/2023
- IACUC protocol was submitted for review and approval was received on 08/30/2023
- Submitted application to DNR for Aquaculture permit for UMD College Park greenhouse 11/07/2023
Milestone 2 - Engagement
- 2,379 people received advertisement in both Spanish and English for the aquaponic learning group. Advertised aquaponic farmer learning group through the Maryland Beginning Farmer Success newsletter (793 subscribers), the Maryland Urban Agriculture E-news newsletter (1,500 subscribers), Extension entrepreneurial coaching clients (50), social media, and through direct emails to known aspiring aquaponic farmers who had previously contacted the team for technical assistance (9 individuals, 1 of whom shared the recruitment with 25 other aspiring farmers), and through partner organizations such as CASA Maryland and a Veterans Administration outpost in Southern Maryland. Advertising completed 9/15/2023.
- Received 74 applications to participate.
- Selected applicants to create a group of participants with a variety of years of experience, access to land, and diverse backgrounds. Applicants selected on 10/2/2023
- Admitted 22 farmer participants representing 20 farms (when 2 farming partners applied together, we admitted them together). We had originally proposed to train 10 farmers. We decided to expand to 20 farms, to maximize the access to our training, while maintaining a small enough group to have a high quality hands-on experience.
- We did not receive any applications from participants who prefer to learn in Spanish. We plan to launch the current cohort and then conduct a second outreach campaign through Hispanic/Latine agricultural organizations, to recruit participants for a second, Spanish-speaking cohort.
Milestone 3 - Learning and Evaluation
- 22 participants met for first quarterly farmer peer learning group meeting online. Orientated participants to the timeline and expectations of the educational program. Administered consent process and intake evaluations. 11/7 and 11/8/2023
- Created course website using the software Canvas.
- Scheduled next online quarterly class for February 2024.
- Planning hands-on field trips and on-farm experiences for winter and spring 2024.
Milestone 4 - Engagement
- Project advisory team met to discuss farmer recruitment on 08/01/2023
- Project advisory team met to review learning objectives and draft educational material on 11/07/2023
- Project team members and project advisory committee went to a field trip to visit 2 commercial aquaponic farms in MD on 10/17/2023
- This will continue to occur at least twice per year until the project’s end in 2026.
Milestone 5 - Engagement
- Research and demonstration field days have been delayed. Farmer training participants will visit the research greenhouse and build first on-farm demonstration in spring 2024, to learn hands-on skills. The first field days are planned for summer and fall 2024, to share preliminary research results and showcase first on-farm demonstration.