The awareness of and enthusiasm for aquaponics is beginning to snowball. Every day I see new references to aquaponics, new blog posts, articles and media attention. I am glad to see this and find it encouraging that so many people are recognizing the potential of aquaponics. But, unfortunately, there is also a great deal of misinformation being written, blogged and printed about aquaponics.
Our company, Nelson and Pade, Inc., which has been in aquaponics and controlled environment agriculture for 20+ years, has gotten and continues to get a lot of press for the things we have achieved. There are also many new organizations, typically with only a couple of years of experience (and sometimes even less) that are in the headlines as well. And, often, these people new to aquaponics neglect to acknowledge the history and research that has preceded them. It might be new technology to them, but it is not new technology. Dr. Rakocy and his associates at the University of the Virgin Islands, as well as other research scientist around the world, have been researching and helping to develop this technology for over 30 years.
A number of these aquaponics start-ups appear to be in the business of using the buzz around aquaponics to entice investors rather than growing food or to convince you that their “new” invention of aquaponics is the solution to all of the world’s problems. I have seen these schemes emerge in a big way in the past year.
So, my advice is: buyer beware. Before you move forward with an aquaponic company, foundation or non-profit who wants to recruit you as an investor, provide you information, or sell you something; be sure to check them out, look for actual achievements and make sure they have hands-on, real-life success in aquaponics.
As new aquaponics organizations sprout up, some with websites showing nothing more than drawings and concepts and others grabbing headlines, we are busy building, shipping and installing systems that are operating and providing food for people of all walks of life. In the past year Nelson and Pade, Inc. has built and shipped 20 complete aquaponic systems to commercial growers, hobbyists, mission groups, Universities and schools and we have taught over 200 people from 28 states and 12 countries about aquaponics in our comprehensive workshops. We are out there making it happen on both a large and small scale, in developed and developing countries.
In case you are wondering about the history and experience of Nelson and Pade, Inc., here is a little rundown of some of our achievements over the last 25 years:
2010 – Built a new 5,000 sq ft demonstration greenhouse; moved into larger facility to accommodate growth; taught aquaponics to over 200 people from 28 states and 12 countries in our workshops and extended stay learning programs; shipped 20 complete Clear Flow Aquaponic SystemsTM to customers in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia; built, shipped and began the installation of the first Living Food BankTM Aquaponic System in Haiti2009 – Designed and installed two large commercial aquaponic facilities in Wisconsin (KP Simply Fresh in Baraboo, Future Farm in Baldwin); resumed our workshops and training (initially started in California in 1997); welcomed Dr. James Rakocy to our Board of Advisors2008 – Wrote and published the first comprehensive book on aquaponics, Aquaponic Food Production; began offering complete aquaponic system packages for all applications including commercial, education, home food production and research; installed an aquaponic system at the University of the Virgin Islands2006-2007 – Relocated the business to Wisconsin from Mariposa, California2004 – 2005 – Began offering custom aquaponic systems2004 – Taught the first aquaponics workshops in Australia2003 – Wrote and produced the first video on aquaponics, Aquaponic Food Production, available in English and Spanish2002 – Planned and assisted in the installation of 1/3 acre aquaponic system in Illinois2000 – 2001 – Designed and installed a ½ acre aquaponic facility in California; wrote and published the booklet Desktop Aquaponics (updated in 2004); began offering project planning and system design services; continued building and testing various aquaponic systems, research and development1999 – Wrote Aquaponics Curriculum (now used in schools throughout the world); continued aquaponics research1998 – 2004 – Built numerous controlled environment greenhouse using hydroponics, organic hydroponics and aquaponics throughout the United States1997 – Began publishing the Aquaponics Journal (58 issues published to date); continued aquaponics research; offered the first aquaponics workshop; wrote and produced the interactive CD-Rom, All About Aquaculture; wrote and published the book set, How to Start and Succeed in the Hydroponics Business (updated in 2000 and 2004)1996 – Established www.aquaponics.com website; wrote and produced the interactive CD-Rom, The Encyclopedia of Hydroponic Gardening, wrote and produced the video, Hobby Hydroponics1994 – 2000 – Operated a variety of aquaponic systems in our California greenhouses and raised largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, koi and fancy goldfish along with a variety of vegetables that were commercially sold1994 – Converted 3,000 sq ft hydroponic greenhouse to aquaponics1992 – Began building aquaponic systems, testing design theories in California greenhouses1989 – Built second controlled environment hydroponic greenhouse1987 – built 5,000 sq ft hydroponic greenhouse; wrote and produced the video, Commercial Hydroponics 1985 – Wrote and produced the first video on hydroponics, “Hydroponics: Set Up, Care and Maintenance”; built first 4-bay hydroponic controlled environment greenhouse in Wisconsin
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