Growing Industries Aquaculture & Aquaponic Economic ... Educational... · Growing Industries...
Transcript of Growing Industries Aquaculture & Aquaponic Economic ... Educational... · Growing Industries...
Growing Industries Aquaculture & Aquaponic Economic Development
Dr. Chris Hartleb University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility Aquaponic Innovation Center
Rebecca Nelson and John Pade Nelson and Pade, Inc.®
Montello, Wis
Ron Johnson and Jim Held University of Wisconsin-Extension
Aquaculture
• Aquaculture is the science and industry of fish farming.
• Benefits: • Most efficient production of protein • Conservative uses of resources, water, space and
labor • Sustainability & consistency • Economic engine
Aquaculture Business Incubator
• Leveraged funding: U.S. Department of Commerce – Workforce Education & Training for Environmentally &
Economically Sustainable Great Lakes Aquaculture ($291,000) • Short courses for industry
– Nine in 2014-15 • Over 211 training events in aquaculture/aquaponics • Internships for future industry innovators • Expanded aquaculture minor at UW-Stevens Point
Aquaculture Economic Development Success • Rules & regulations listening sessions • Wisconsin Walleye Initiative • Private fish farm capacity study (DNR, DATCP, DIOA, WEDC) • Lake sturgeon options for private industry • New businesses: 25 • Retained businesses: 8 • Eleven workshops with >900 attendees • Community outreach with >1,200 participants at 8 major events
Aquaponics
• Aquaponics is an integrated, soilless system for raising fish and plants.
• Benefits: • Sustainable and natural • Highly efficient • Conservative uses of resources, water, space and
labor • Free of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers • Produces both a protein and a vegetable crop from
one integrated system • Continuous production of food 365 days per year
Aquaponics as a Commercial Industry
Status - • Small but rapidly growing industry –
experiencing exponential growth. • Driven by:
• Food security & Food quality • Community demand for locally grown • Limited fresh water and land
Industry Needs - • Industry and student demand for further education
in aquaponics.
• Employment opportunities
• Currently have
• Investors looking to establish large commercial ventures.
• Students looking for information on how to pursue a career in aquaponics.
• Further research in crop diversity and system efficiency
Achievements of This Public-Private Partnership
– Educate the workforce • Offer university aquaponics courses
– Enrolled >133 students in three years; generating 328 credit hours • Offer professional aquaponic certificate program
– Approved by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs • Partnered in 3-day Aquaponic Master classes
– 1,000+ students from 66 countries; 15% purchased, constructed, or launched new aquaponic business
• Established International Aquaponics Society – Create new jobs in innovative, sustainable food production – Conduct innovative research & commercialize results
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Nelson and Pade, Inc.®
Aquaponics Innovation Center • Funded as part of the UW-System Economic Development Incentive Grant
UWSP-Aquaponics Innovation Center
Nelson and Pade, Inc.® Demonstration Greenhouse
Aquaponics Innovation Center
Meeting the Needs of an Industry • Educational opportunities • Economic incubator for an industry • Catalyst for economic growth • Commercialize discoveries • New business innovation • Economic development in blue-green industry
Results
• Growing an Industry – Partnership – Education – Research – Innovation