Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
Interview with Dr. James D. Dixon (Taken 3/1/2010)
1. How long have you been in the aquaponics industry?
About two years.
2. Why/How did you get involved with aquaponics?
I was searching for a way to grow a large amount of high quality herbs and leafy vegetables for local restaurants in a limited amount space. The city of Royal Oak has become a Mecca for high-end restaurants in the Southeast part of Michigan over the last twenty years. My brother was a chef for seventeen years and was well connected to the local scene, so I had a fairly good idea that we could sell this type of produce to his local chef friends. I spend part of the year in O'ahu, Hawaii, and while having lunch with the Dean of a local business school all she talked about was this aquaponics farm on the Big Island of Hawaii that she had visited. I became intrigued with the idea of being able to produce multiple crops that can be sold from the same system. It also looked like the systems were very robust as compared to classical hydroponics systems and are very good for growing leafy green type vegetables. I built a small experimental system to look at the various types of growing media in December of 2008. I later took a one week course at the farm on the Big Island in March of 2009 that my friend had visited. I came back to Michigan in May of 2009 and started building our systems in the parking lot of a commercial building in Royal Oak. We now have two systems running and are in our first production cycle for our produce.
3. Do you think aquaponics will eventually become the primary form of agriculture?
No. Aquaponic systems are really good for growing high margin niche crops where freshness and quality are important. There is a growing movement for buying local whenever possible and these systems fit that business model very well.
4. What do you think the future of aquaponics will bring?
Well, I think there will be a growing number of these systems of all different sizes being constructed in the United States and world wide. We have one of the first commercial systems in the state of Michigan and have generated a lot of interest from local consumers. It is a very compelling story to tell and it strikes a chord with a people. I recently spoke to a fellow from Michigan who was talking about converting an elementary school into an aquaponics facility – about 20,000 square feet of growing space.
5. What are your views on incorporating earthworm research into aquaponics? Do you think eliminating the need for fish meal or oil in fish feed could change aquaponics as we know it?
Earthworms provide a way of helping to close the ecosystem loop in aquaponics systems. They can process the green harvest waste from your aquaponics system and provide an important source of protein for your fish or other animals. There is a big drive to go to plant protein feeds for fish, primarily from soybeans. One of the problems of using these feeds is making them palatable to fish. We think that a ground meal of dried earthworms may offer a solution to this problem. Accordingly, we have been speaking to potential academic collaborators at the University of Rhode Island food chemistry group to formulate some fish feeds with worms. This would further reduce our dependency of wild fish as a source of protein in fish feeds.
6. Are there any aspects of aquaponics you are researching currently?
If so, what are your hypotheses?As I mentioned earlier, we are interested in making the system as sustainable as possible from a fish feed viewpoint. We are also interested in designing systems that are very energy efficient, as this lowers operating costs which go directly to the bottom line. One design goal is to have support systems that can be phased in as needed. By that, I mean if you have more fish or a higher oxygen demand load more aeration can be added to the system by turning on a pump.
Another area of research is to run low loaded fish systems with nutrient supplementation with worm compost tea which we call vermiaquaponics. Most of the profit in aquaponic systems is in the plants and not the fish. The cycle time for the plants in the system can be as short as three weeks in many cases, whereas the fish cycle can be six months or more. From a business model standpoint, to be profitable, you need to focus most of your attention on the plant side of the business.
Our design interest is also skewed towards the smaller systems that can provide 20 to 30 pounds of fresh vegetables a week in 200 square feet, about the size of a one car garage. Ideally, the system would cost under $5,000 and allow the person to recoup the cost of the system in about 18 months or less. We would also like to run the system on less than 1 Kw daily to keep operating costs to a bare minimum. This would also allow a modest sized solar panel system to be able to power the system off-grid.
7. Do you think aquaponics should be incorporated into the classrooms? If so, what parts of it do you think should be taught?
What I like about aquaponics as a teaching tool is that it requires an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. There are opportunities for all types of learning experiences – both from a theoretical and hands-on approach. People learn different ways and an aquaponics curriculum offers the opportunity to learn from these various approaches. To be successful in running an aquaponics system you have to know both aquaculture and having plant growing experience. You must also be able to integrate the two fields to run your system. There are also opportunities to use engineering skills to figure out flow rates, mass transfer and material science to design systems.
8. If you had any advice for someone entering the aquaponics industry what would it be?
I would say you are a lucky person! I think the field is getting more positive press and offers a way for people to grow their own food in a bio-secure way. There will be a demand for people with aquaponics skill sets. At the very least you will be able to run a system for your own personal use.
9. Do you believe it is more important to have aquaculture knowledge or hydroponics/botany to excel in aquaponics?
It is one of the strengths and weaknesses of aquaponics that you need to have both sets of knowledge to run the systems. That being said, one of the attractive features of aquaponics is that the fish and plant sides of the system complement and support one another in a positive way. Aquaponics systems are much more robust than either system in isolation.
During his research process Spencer also conducted this interview with aquaponic experts Dr. Jim Rakocy and Dr. Wilson Lennard. You may view these interviews on Spencer's Wiki.
1. How long have you been in the aquaponics industry?
About two years.
2. Why/How did you get involved with aquaponics?
I was searching for a way to grow a large amount of high quality herbs and leafy vegetables for local restaurants in a limited amount space. The city of Royal Oak has become a Mecca for high-end restaurants in the Southeast part of Michigan over the last twenty years. My brother was a chef for seventeen years and was well connected to the local scene, so I had a fairly good idea that we could sell this type of produce to his local chef friends. I spend part of the year in O'ahu, Hawaii, and while having lunch with the Dean of a local business school all she talked about was this aquaponics farm on the Big Island of Hawaii that she had visited. I became intrigued with the idea of being able to produce multiple crops that can be sold from the same system. It also looked like the systems were very robust as compared to classical hydroponics systems and are very good for growing leafy green type vegetables. I built a small experimental system to look at the various types of growing media in December of 2008. I later took a one week course at the farm on the Big Island in March of 2009 that my friend had visited. I came back to Michigan in May of 2009 and started building our systems in the parking lot of a commercial building in Royal Oak. We now have two systems running and are in our first production cycle for our produce.
3. Do you think aquaponics will eventually become the primary form of agriculture?
No. Aquaponic systems are really good for growing high margin niche crops where freshness and quality are important. There is a growing movement for buying local whenever possible and these systems fit that business model very well.
4. What do you think the future of aquaponics will bring?
Well, I think there will be a growing number of these systems of all different sizes being constructed in the United States and world wide. We have one of the first commercial systems in the state of Michigan and have generated a lot of interest from local consumers. It is a very compelling story to tell and it strikes a chord with a people. I recently spoke to a fellow from Michigan who was talking about converting an elementary school into an aquaponics facility – about 20,000 square feet of growing space.
5. What are your views on incorporating earthworm research into aquaponics? Do you think eliminating the need for fish meal or oil in fish feed could change aquaponics as we know it?
Earthworms provide a way of helping to close the ecosystem loop in aquaponics systems. They can process the green harvest waste from your aquaponics system and provide an important source of protein for your fish or other animals. There is a big drive to go to plant protein feeds for fish, primarily from soybeans. One of the problems of using these feeds is making them palatable to fish. We think that a ground meal of dried earthworms may offer a solution to this problem. Accordingly, we have been speaking to potential academic collaborators at the University of Rhode Island food chemistry group to formulate some fish feeds with worms. This would further reduce our dependency of wild fish as a source of protein in fish feeds.
6. Are there any aspects of aquaponics you are researching currently?
If so, what are your hypotheses?As I mentioned earlier, we are interested in making the system as sustainable as possible from a fish feed viewpoint. We are also interested in designing systems that are very energy efficient, as this lowers operating costs which go directly to the bottom line. One design goal is to have support systems that can be phased in as needed. By that, I mean if you have more fish or a higher oxygen demand load more aeration can be added to the system by turning on a pump.
Another area of research is to run low loaded fish systems with nutrient supplementation with worm compost tea which we call vermiaquaponics. Most of the profit in aquaponic systems is in the plants and not the fish. The cycle time for the plants in the system can be as short as three weeks in many cases, whereas the fish cycle can be six months or more. From a business model standpoint, to be profitable, you need to focus most of your attention on the plant side of the business.
Our design interest is also skewed towards the smaller systems that can provide 20 to 30 pounds of fresh vegetables a week in 200 square feet, about the size of a one car garage. Ideally, the system would cost under $5,000 and allow the person to recoup the cost of the system in about 18 months or less. We would also like to run the system on less than 1 Kw daily to keep operating costs to a bare minimum. This would also allow a modest sized solar panel system to be able to power the system off-grid.
7. Do you think aquaponics should be incorporated into the classrooms? If so, what parts of it do you think should be taught?
What I like about aquaponics as a teaching tool is that it requires an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. There are opportunities for all types of learning experiences – both from a theoretical and hands-on approach. People learn different ways and an aquaponics curriculum offers the opportunity to learn from these various approaches. To be successful in running an aquaponics system you have to know both aquaculture and having plant growing experience. You must also be able to integrate the two fields to run your system. There are also opportunities to use engineering skills to figure out flow rates, mass transfer and material science to design systems.
8. If you had any advice for someone entering the aquaponics industry what would it be?
I would say you are a lucky person! I think the field is getting more positive press and offers a way for people to grow their own food in a bio-secure way. There will be a demand for people with aquaponics skill sets. At the very least you will be able to run a system for your own personal use.
9. Do you believe it is more important to have aquaculture knowledge or hydroponics/botany to excel in aquaponics?
It is one of the strengths and weaknesses of aquaponics that you need to have both sets of knowledge to run the systems. That being said, one of the attractive features of aquaponics is that the fish and plant sides of the system complement and support one another in a positive way. Aquaponics systems are much more robust than either system in isolation.
During his research process Spencer also conducted this interview with aquaponic experts Dr. Jim Rakocy and Dr. Wilson Lennard. You may view these interviews on Spencer's Wiki.
