Progress 04/01/24 to 03/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached during this reporting period include high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, aquaculture scientists and farmers, and individuals and families within the commonwealth of Kentucky. Educational presentations and updates on work done on this project and its significance were presented to students, young professionals, farmers, and Extension personnel atthe World Aquaculture Society Annual Meeting, Aquaculture America 2025, to draw attention to the high importation rate of Tilapia and the need to develop local resources for increasing self-reliance in growing this fish locally for local consumtion and healthy living. Information was disseminated to students, individuals and families through educational tours, and hands-on learning on reproducing and growing Tilapia at the Aquaculture Research Center, Kentucky State University (KSU), Frankfort, Kentucky.One high school student, Jack Barnes, from Frankfort High School (FHS) in Frankfort Kentucky was mentored and trained through experiential learning (hands-on activities) during the Fall 2024 Semester by a graduate student, Ayomide Taiwo, enrolled in the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at KSU. The high school student was trained in raising Tilapia and in upkeep of production systems used for raising fishas part of our partnership with the FHS Mentorship Program required for high school graduation. Extension activities included education, training,and community involvement through collaboration with non-governmentorganizations,Fayette County Extension in Lexington Kentucky,and the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension. Engagement with our target audience included communicationand sharing (dissemination) of information on this project and the work it entails, with a focus on (1)the importance of growing local food for local consumption, (2) healthy preparation and cooking of locally grown Tilapia to target healthier living and better management of high blood pressure (reduction of salt intake), and diabetes, and (3) the need for investment in local economy to increaseour food and nutrition security. Changes/Problems:The implementation of this project is ongoing for four years now. We have made major advances and achievements. We have been able to provide a graduate student assistantship to Cole Daleiden, from Minnesota for completion of his studies in the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Kentucky State University. Cole successfully defended his thesis, and he is completing graduation requirements for his Master of Science in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. The project has introduced genetically improved tilapia developed at Kentucky State University with YY males and the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT)strain to small-scale, local farmers for expanding and diversifying locally produced food. We have maintained the GIFT train as a living genetic germplasm and genetic resource for broodstock use.The project has led to training and development of resources for Extension agents, local communities, and farmers with special emphasis on increased accessibility to fresh and locally farmed food for healthy choices and healthier nutrition lifestyle to battle, manage, and minimize heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes in Kentucky. The project has supported and developed cooking demonstrations, recipes, and dissemination of information on preparing and cooking locally produced fish in a healthy manner with low salt content and healthy methods of cooking such as grilling, and baking. Although we have been able to address to a varying extent all major objectives with remnant YY male broodstock that Kentucky State University had previously obtained prior to this award in 2021, it has been difficult to obtain the YY male fish genetics. Only two companies supply YY males. One company, FishGen, Swansea, United Kingdom, has not been able to provide fish for us to purchase. The other company, Til-Aqua International Ltd., Someren, The Netherlands, refused to sell us their YY males, and this company and the YY male genetics was sold to anothercompany now known as f"GF-Hatchery™ and Gårdsfisk®" in Sweden. YY male broodstock are crucial to effectively fulfill objective 1 and 2 of the project: (Objective 1) to produce genetically improved Nile tilapia by use of crossbreeding and YY-male technology to obtain superior growth performance, and (Objective 2) to implement on-farm Nile tilapia growth demonstration projects using fish genetic resources from crosses developed at Kentucky State University. We were finally able to obtain additional YY-male broodstockin February 2025. We purchased 120 YY male fry and over 600 mixed sex fry of the Silver Strain of Nile Tilapia from GF-Hatchery™ and Gårdsfisk® in Sweden, and thus added new germplasm resources to the Aquaculture Research Center at Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky. In an effort to adequately address all objectives and to fulfill our goal to obtain YY male genetics for this project, we applied for a one-year extension (2025 to 2026) for this project to enable us to grow and condition YY males for reproduction for completion of main areas of work including producing YY male crosses for on- farm demonstration of growth, and introduction of genetically improved Nile Tilapia to Kentucky farms for local tilapia hatchery and grow-out production. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided trainining and professional development opportunities to Extension staff, graduate students,and high school students in (a) hands-on husbandry and maintainance of recirculating systems, (b) management of genetic resources as live germplasm for the different Nile Tilapia strains, (c) experience in interraction with the general public, farmers, scientists, and aquaculture stakeholders, legislators, and local communities, (d)in development of videos and recipes for educational and demonstration purposes, and in development and presentation at the Extension Section of the annual conference of the World Aquaculture Society, Aquaculture America 2025. The most significant graduate student impact for professional develoment has been on Cole Daleiden, recipient of the graduate assistantship of this project, who even before he was accepted into the program, had read and inquired about this Extension project. Durring this reporting period, he presented on Tilapia Online Hatchery Resources to support work relating to this project, and he along with other graduate students in the program have had opportunities to mentor high school students with hands-on training on reproduction and spawning of tilapia, and management of flow through and recirculating systems. Graduate student Ayomide Taiwo presented during this period on mentorship of high school by graduate students using his mentorship role in Fall 2024 to illustrate high school involvement in this project. Project Co-Investigator Jeffrey Warner has managed propagation and maintainance of all the Tilapia strains at the Aquaculture Research Center at Kentucky State University (KSU); he has overseen the process of purchasing YY males from Sweden and now has experience on what it takes to import fish into the USA from international sources; and, he has developed recipes and participated in community outreach demonstration of healthy cooking using tilapia at the Fayette County Extension Office in Lexington. Mr. Warner has learned to manage and mentor more students who are contributing to tangible products in this project, such as in the case of Ifeoluwa Durowaiye, who developed the American-Style Nigerian Fish Gravy and provided fish tasting opportunities to legislators and KSU Cooperative Extension Faculty and Staff, and local communityparticipants of the GALA event organized by the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce. The KSU United States Aquaculture Student Subunit wrote aproject proposal in support of this project for "Empowering Future Aquaculture Food Safety Experts: Student Food Health Ceritifcation". This provided an opportunity for eight subunit members to work together on behalf of the student subunit and the principal investigator of this project to develop a small grant proposal that was submitted to the United States Aquaculture Society, a Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society. This provided opportunities in professional development in writing, communication, budgeting, and hands-on involvement in application and implementation of a small grant for which they were awarded $300 for training in Food Health Certification for processing of Tilapia and other species. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Communities of interest (stakeholders) in this project includes individuals and families in local Kentucky communities, students (high school, undergraduate and graduate students), Kentucky farmers, non-governmental and student organizations, Kentucky State University (KSU) Cooperative Extension Land Grant Program, Fayette County Cooperative Extension, 4-H youth, aquaculture scientists, Aquaculture Extension Personnel, and the general public. Results have been communicated to stakeholders through collaboration and partnerships with non-governmental organizations such as FoodChain https://foodchainlex.org/ (Fayette County, Kentucky) and the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce (Franklin County, Kentucky), at social and educational events that brought together chefs, local food, farmers, families, and Extension personnel to highlight culinary products, local farm production, local food tasting, and eating experiences. have donated 30 adult whole fish and more than 100 fish fillets of tilapia grown at the KSU Aquaculture Research Center to support local food production, cooking and tasting demonstrations and educational experiences by FoodChain, the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, the Fayette Cooperative Extension County, and the Kentucky State University Student Subunit in preparation of grilled, and baked tilapia recipes. We featured healthy food preparation of tilapia using an American-Style Nigerian Gravy recipe developed as part of this project. This recipe was prepared for presentation and tasting at a Legislative Fish Fry hosted by the Kentucky State University (KSU) to raise awareness of local tilapia and seafood (aquaculture) production and an alternative method of cooking fish that did not include deep frying and salt, but which was so tasty that participants came to ask for more. We have disseminated products and results of the project thorough educational hands-on experiences of handling and dissecting fish to youth in AgDiscovery Program (4-H youth development activities). We have provided numerous in-person tours of our aquaculture and tilapia research and production facilities at the KSU Aquaculture Research Center to youth, teachers, high school students, legislators, visiting administrators, scientists, Extension Administrators, and the general public. We have donated live fish for use in STEM education of youths in local schools in Lexington, Kentucky, and we have donated more than 300 live fish of various sizes (small, medium, large) to two farms for on farm growth demonstration in Daviess and Franklin Counties in Kentucky. Finally, we have presented on the results and work done on tilapia hatchery production based on use of genetically improved strains, on-farm demonstration efforts for raising tilapia, and Extension resource development for marketing and sales and human nutrition regarding Nile Tilapia in four poster and oral presentations in the Extension section of Aquaculture America 2025, the annual conference of the World Aquaculture Society. This conference attendees included business owners, scientists, high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, entrepreneurs, farmers, and aquaculture experts from across the USA and the world. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to do the following. 1. Raise Nile Tilapia fry of Silver Strain YY males and mixed sex obtained in February 2025 from GF-Hatchery™ and Gårdsfisk® in Sweden. 2. Cross and maintain new generation of Nile Tilapia Mixed-Sex broodstock of the GF-Hatchery™ and Gårdsfisk® Silver Strain, and the Genetically Improved Farmed (GIFT) Strain during the Summer of 2025. 3. Cross Silver Strain of YY Males with females of the Silver Strain and GIFTStrain to produce Genetically Male Tilapia (GMT). 4. Provide GMT fingerlings to farmers for on-farm demonstration of growth. 5. Develop minimal-cost demonstration production system using Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC Totes) for demonstration of growth at the Kentucky State University (KSU) Aquaculture Research Center. 6. Develop Step-by Step Procedures and Training Videos for building IBC-Tote based recirculating tilapia culture systems for small-scale production and backyard pisciculture. 7. Create Excel spreadsheet budget of theproduction cost ofIBC-Tote based recirculating tilapia culture systems. 8. Evaluate growth parameters of GMT fry raised in based recirculating tilapia culture systems for small-scale production and backyard pisciculture at the KSUAquaculture Research Center. 9. Survey retail market/storesand consumers on tilapia product preference (fillet,live fish, and whole fish on ice), market demand, and willingness to pay. 10. Develop and publish a factsheet on Online Tilapia Vendor Hatchery Resources to include contact information for purchase of broodstock, and fry to adult/market-sized tilapia. 11. Develop and disseminate additional healthy recipes based on grilling, sauteeing, baking, boiling, and steaming locally grown tilapia and other localproduceto highlight methods of food preparation and cooking to address health problems related to heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishments for Objective 1. Produce genetically improved Nile tilapia by use of crossbreeding and YY-male technology to obtain superior growth performance.We renewed the fish importation license and finalized agreements for purchase of YY males and mixed sex Silver Strain of Nile Tilapia from GF-Hatchery™ and Gårdsfisk® in Sweden that is one of two international aquaculture companies that produce YY males for commercial production of all-male tilapia. The YY fish genetics of this company was used in our previous research study indicating faster and larger growth when crossed with the female of the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT strain) at Kentucky State University (KSU). This is the first time that we were able to successfully purchase and receive YY male genetics for use in this project, and it is a major component for facilitating implementation of on-farm growth demonstration and development of marketing resources for this project. We have continued to propagate and maintain the GIFT strain at the KSU Aquaculture Research Center; thus, we now have Nile Tilapia genetics of live mixed-sex broodstock needed to produce genetically improved crosses for on-farm demonstration of growth. Accomplishments for Objective 2. Implement on-farm Nile tilapia growth demonstration projects using fish genetic resources developed at Kentucky State University. Over three hundred and five live fish of different sizes (small, medium, and large fish) were donated to support on-farm growth demonstration of tilapia in two farms: Jessica Lopez Fish Farm, in Franklin County, Kentucky; and, Fischer's Family Farm, in Daviess County, Kentucky. Information on stocking, survival, growth, water quality, harvest and marketing (fish product and sales price) will be provided by the farm as part of the on-farm objectives of this project. Accomplishments for Objective 3. Build extension resources to facilitate and evaluate the marketing and sales of locally produced aquaculture products in ethnic and community local markets serving minority and limited-resource stakeholders and local consumers.Fish donations for on-farm growth demonstration provided a means for obtaining information on stocking, survival, growth, water quality, harvest and marketing (fish product and sales price). This will be provided by the farm as part the donation agreement to fulfill the marketing objective of this project. In addition, Online hatchery and vendor resources were reviewed and online content was compiled for use in development on a fact sheet for easy and quick overview of Online Tilapia Vendors, telephone numbers, and website information on species (type of tilapia sold), and prices. Accomplishments for Objective 4. Develop human nutrition outreach programs and resources for training and education of field Extension agents (Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky), minority and limited-resource stakeholders, Small-Scale Farmers, and the general public. Over 100 pounds of tilapia fillets of fish grown at the Aquaculture Research Center at Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY were donated for development of recipes using locally produced fish and produce used in educational engagements of youth and local communities, workshops, cooking demonstrations, and social events in Franklin and Fayette County, Kentucky. We partnered with non-profit and other organizations (FoodChain in Lexington, Kentucky, The Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Kentucky State University United States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit) to support local food production, networking and connecting local products with chefs, farmers, cooking and tasting with individuals, families and local communities in Kentucky to create awareness to support healthy methods of food preparation and to highlight the need for local tilapia production and seafood accessibility.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Daleiden, C., Novelo, N., Warner, J., Taiwo, A., and Rodriguez, A. 2025. Supporting Small-Scale Aquaculture by Mapping Online Hatchery Resources. Aquaculture America 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 6 to 10.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Falakin, T., Junlaprom, T., Daleiden, C. Rodriguez, A., Ohwofasa, F., Okoh, S., Chhetri, S. Wright, B., Novelo, N. Teye, V., and Adebayo, O. 2025. Empowering Future Aquaculture Food Safety Experts: Student Food Health Ceritifcation. Aquaculture America 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 6 to 10.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Taiwo, A., Daleiden, C., Warner, J., Novelo, N. 2025. Nurturing Future Aquaculture Professionals: Mentorship of Graduate Students alongside High Schoool Students. Aquaculture America 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 6 to 10.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Warner, J., Walling, C., Daleiden, C., Taiwo, A., Rodriguez, A., and Novelo, N. 2025. Bringing Aquaculture to the Table: Expanding Kentuckian Palates through Research and Extension. Aquaculture America 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 6 to 10.
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Progress 04/01/23 to 03/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience reached by efforts during this reporting period included highs school students, undergraduate students, and young professionals at scientific meetings. We targeted participants at meetings and conferences at a local, national, and international level on the work done in this project. Information on the need for self-sufficiency, and local food production for healthier living through the work being implemented in this project were presented at the Kentucky Academy of Science,Aquaculture America 2024, and at an agriculture educational and research institute in Costa Rica, the Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza.The KSU United States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit (comprised of 16 graduate students of KSU's aquacultureprogram), and two high school students from Frankfort High School in Frankfort, Kentucky have been closely involved in this project. We have worked to provide information on this project to small, limited-resource, and minority farmers and to University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University Extension personnel for on-farm demonstration and collaboration in this project on a one-on-one basis, and through participation inthe Third Thursday Thing Program, Kentucky State University Land Grant Program's monthly sustainable agriculture workshop. Changes/Problems:There have been a number of major setbacks within the past years. First we have had two Co-Investigators either retire (Boris Gomelsky), or leave our institution(Kristopher Grimes and NIlima Mishra). This was 50% of our Key Personnel, and represent a reduction in FTE reported in previous progress reports for this project. Secondly we have not been able to aquire broodstock because of internal and external institutional or vendor delays in obtaining the necessary documentation, information, and approval for purchase of YY male broodstock internationally. Despite making progress during this reporting period in advancing documentation and process of purchasing the fish, we have not recieved this broodstock yet. When we do receive them within the one-year no cost extension that has been approved, they will be received in Fall 2024 and they will need about 6-8 months to grow for cross-breeding and production of fingerlings for on-farm demonstration. This means that we will need to request an additional year for no-cost extension to accomplish the on-farm demonstration and marketing portions of this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We worked with two high school students from Frankfort High School Mentorship Program in Frankfort, Kentucky. They had internships with us during this reporting period and worked with a graduate student mentor, and with Jeffrey Warner, Co-Investigator in this project. These students made an end of the year overview presentation on their experience at the Aquaculture Research Center on the science, nutrition, cooking and hands-on aspect of this tilapia capacity building project. Graduate students participated in video production of processing, preparation, and cooking of NIle Tilapia using healthy cooking techniques (boiling - Nigerian soup recipe) or grilling of fish with easily accessible basic seasonings. In addition to organizing, participating, and creating video content, graduate students provided an overview of this project at the annual meetings of the Kentucky Academy of Science and Aquaculture America 2024, a conference of the World Aquaculture Society. The KSU Student SubUnit of the US Aquaculture Society supported this project and their direct contributions in video content of preparation of healthy food that was grown at KSU's Aquaculture Research Center provided professional opportunities for personal devepment, and dissemination of information at a local and national level. The United States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit Travel Award at Aquaculture America 2023 was presented to Oluwafemi Adebayo, graduate student, and member of the Kentucky State University Student Subunit. He was lead author of a poster presentation on the KSU Subunit involvement in training and development of digital resources for processing of local fish for healthier choices and healthier living.Finally, one of the major significantaccomplishments of this project was the academic training, mentorship,and professional development of graduate studentCole Daleiden whose graduate assistantship was funded by this project. He entered Kentucky State University as a graduate student in the Aquaculture program in August 2022. At the end of this year's reporting period, and within two years of arriving at KSU, he has completed all academic coursework and assistantship resposibilities, andhe is near completion of his Master of Science Degree in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. Not only has he excelled and been recognized as one of KSU's outstandinggraduate student at the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, but he has also been driven, motivated, and has had a lot of opportunities for interrospection and growth as mentor to a high school student for 1.5 years, and through his experience in Kentucky coming from St. Michael, Minnesota. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through hands-on experiential learning of system upkeep and husbandry, and reproduction and growth of tilapia to high school students through internship, to Kentucky State University undergraduate and graduate students through integration of hands-on activities in use of genetically improved broodstock (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia females and YY-Male strains) to produce all-male or predominantly male progenies in undergraduate and graduate level course work and laboratory on Fish Reproduction and Spawning. We have disseminated information to local audiences in Kentucky to Kentucky farmers and others on a one-to-one basis and by on-site farm visits in Laurel County and Franklin County, Kentucky, and at the Third Thursday Thing Program targeting limited -resource, minority farmers and Extension personnel at Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky. We have developed posters and oral presentations on human nutrition and healthy preparation and cooking of NIle Tilapia for eating of locally produced fish at Aquaculture America 2024, and online in a Fin to Fork VideoSeries, KYSU YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqL5LoLaCE9p3Xy1yPYS8svitmvuSCoA1 . And,we have provided information on the work we do on this project at an international meeting at an agriculture and education institute in Costa Rica. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to do the following during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals in this project: Goal 1. Purchase, Aquire, Grow and Condition for reproduction different strains of YY males and mixed sex females. After 6-8 months of acquiring the juvenile broodstock fish in our facilities at the Aquaculture Research Center, we will crossbreed the adult broodsotck to produce all-male or predominantly male fish for on farm demonstration of growth. Goal 2. We will provide three to five farmers with fish produced using genetically improved broodstock for them to raise for a period of 100-120 days during the Kentucky Summer. Goal 3. Once fish have been grown to market size, we will visit ethnic markets (African, Hispanic Markets in two or three cities in Kentucky to obtain marketing information on willingness to pay for locally produced fish. We envisiona training manual and/or a curriculum for Extension agents to work within our Kentucky communities on how to plan for a small business raising fish, marketing the desired product, to make a profit and provide an alternative source of livelihood and income to a small family unit. Goal 4. The human nutrition component has been addressed throughout the previous years of this project. But we envision that we will produce a training manual and/or a curriculum for Extension agents on nutritional information on tilapia as a lean-source of protein, vitamins and other nutrients for human health, and onpreparation, cooking and eating of locally produced fish and other products.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The aim of this project is to build and strengthen capacity to provide the seeds for growth within Kentucky State University and external partners in this project to produce local food (tilapia) for local consumption and healthier living through sustainable business and agricultural practices. The achievement of each goal is described for the following four goals: Goal 1.Produce genetically improved Nile tilapia by use of crossbreeding and YY-male technology to obtain superior growth performance. Achievements: We seek to expand genetic resource capabilities at KSU Aquaculture Research Center by acquiring YY male broodstock for growth and reproductive conditioning to produce fast growing fish for US tilapia production. We have (a) propagated and maintained existing strain of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia broodstock at the Aquaculture Research Center at Kentucky State University (KSU).We contacted the international vendor for providing the genetically improved tilapia broodstock for the project for purchase of broodstock fish. This broodstock includes YY males and mixes sex strains. We worked on processing documentation relating to purchase order forbroodstock payment. We obtained Kentucky Fish and Wildlife E-License approval for purchase of tilapia broodstock. We obtained KSU approval and authorization of Power of Attorney for William B. Skinner, Inc., a vendor within the USA, to be the broker to ensure proper documentation for purchasing and importing genetically improved broodstock from international vendor. And we havesubmitted purchase orders to re-novate and upgrade recirculating systems in preparation forbroodstock to be held for growth and reproductive conditioning at the Aquaculture Research Center at KSU. Goal 2.Implement on-farm Nile tilapia growth demonstration projects using fish genetic resources developed at Kentucky State University. We worked with two local farmers located in Laurel County and Franklin County, in Kentucky for on-farm demonstration of growth project. One farmer in Laurel, Kentucky, completely lost the fish we provided to predation. The other farmer in Franklin County was able to grow the fish to market size. Goal 3.Build extension resources to facilitate and evaluate the marketing and sales of locally produced aquaculture products in ethnic and community local markets serving minority and limited-resource stakeholders and local consumers. We worked on revising and preparing short survey for collection of marketing data in ethnic markets. Goal 4.Develop human nutrition outreach programs and resources for training and education of field Extension agents (Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky), minority and limited-resource stakeholders, Small-Scale Farmers, and the general public. Human nutrition information was disseminated via workshops, oral presentations, posters, and student involvement at the highschool, undergraduate, and graduate level.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Lamichhane, S., Stephanus, A, Teye, V., Adebayo, O., Schardt, A. Johannemann, M., Daleiden, C., and Novelo, N. 2024 The Kentucky State University (KSU) United States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit: Education, Community, Professional Develoment, and Collaboration with KSUs Tilapia Capacity Building Project to Create Extension Resources. Oral Presentation, Aquaculture America, San Antonio, Texas, February 18-21.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Taiwo, A., and N. Novelo. 2023. The use of YY males for genetic improvement in Nile Tilapia. Oral Presentation, The Annual Meeting of Kentucky Academy of Science, Northern Kentucky University, November 3-4.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Daleiden, C., and Novelo, N. 2024. Use of Remote-Controlled Automated Feeders to Improve Indoor Hatchery Production. Poster Presentation, Aquaculture America, San Antonio, Texas, February 18-21.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Taiwo, A., Mishra, N., Daleiden, C., Warner, J. and Novelo, N. 2024. Expanding Aquaculture and Healthy Food Choices to Reduce Economic and Health Disparities Affecting Minority and Limited-Resource Stakeholders. Poster Presentation, Aquaculture America, San Antonio, Texas, February 18-21.
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Progress 04/01/22 to 03/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience included: 1. Extension personnel at Kentucky State University (KSU) and at the University of Kentucky; 2. The KSUUnited States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit (comprised of graduate students of KSU's aquaculture program), and high school students from Frankfort High School inFrankfort, Kentucky. 3. Conference participants (students, faculty, staff in academia and others) inExtension Sessions of Aquaculture America 2023 (Conference of the World Aquacuture Society); 4. Small-scale, rural, and limited resource Kentucky farmers. Changes/Problems:The major problem we have had for objective 1 is that it has taken a long time to make progress in purchasing of fish from international sources. First, internal processes at Kentucky State University have been extremely slow, with changes in administration and personnel, and loss of institutional knowledge and guidance. We are overcoming this with the help of the State of Kentucky and with KSU institutional champions that seek solutions and look for opportunities to improve. Recently we have had to wait 3-4 months for e-license approval from US Fish and Wildlife. We already have a broker in the KSU vendor system, and we have now processed all paperwork for establishing the broker with authorization to purchase for KSU. We should get YY males for the first time from international sources within the remaining months of 2023. This lack of YY male broodstock has impaired our ability to produce the fish for on-farm demonstraton. Although we have produced some fish, we need to increase our production and participation of on-farm demonstration of growth. We plan to do this to address objective 2 in the following year. We look forward to resolving these challenges in the coming year and to fulfilling the objectives and intention of our project for it's intended target audience and impact. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The opportunities for training and professional development provided by this project for our target audience included: 1. Training and professional development opportunities were provided to members of the KSU United States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit (KSU Aquaculture graduate and undergraduate students) and staff on selection of high quality fish and fish processing. Video and audio content was recorded,and this was used in student poster presentations at the Aquaculture America 2023 conference (See publications in this report). Graduate students were provided with opportunities to develop leadership and project development and reporting skills, and to provide educational discussions related to aquaculture. They organized the invitation and coordinated a virtual presentation delivery by John Barley Dunne, Director of the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery (Montauk, NY). 2. Cole Daleiden was awarded a graduate assistantship funded by this project. He started his professional and educational development at Kentucky State University in Fall 2022, and he has contributed to the realization of objectives 1., 2, and 4. He provided training on processing of whole tilapia fish to obtain fillet products, which was recorded. This material was used to develop online video resources. 3. This project provided professional development opportunities for the Project Director, Co-Directors, and Co-Investigators in development and implementation of Extension program targeted to increase awareness of aquaculture, tilapia aquaculture, and the healthier cooking, healthier eating, and healthier choices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated to communties of interest though face-to face presentations and online workshops and training,social media and online postings, on-farm visits with Kentucky farmers. High school student Jacy Langley presented to his peers at Frankfort High School on his internship work in this project. Newsletters and social media posts of KSU USAS Student Subunit activities related to this project were posted and shared to KSU Aquaculture faculty, staff, and students, and to social media subscribers. Key personnel of this project disseminated information in professional conferences and in person meetings and phone conversations with stakeholders. We have produced videos and obtained online publications of oral and poster presentations related to this project (See Products and Other Productsin this report). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to: 1. Obtain new germplasm through purchase of YY males from international sources to fullfill the first objective. 2. Produce more fish from genetically improved broodstock for on-farm demonstrations (objective 2) and for providing fish for on-hands experiential learning in various Kentucky High Schools for integration into their educational experience. 3. Develop focus group and individual surveys to evaluate market demand for tilapia, assess profitability and feasibiilty for on-farm production of Nile Tilapia grown during the summer season (100-120 days) and to work on developing marketing and sales resources to achieve objective 3. 4. Increase awareness of human health benefits and continue to produce resources for our target audience to fulfill the fourth objective.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. Produce genetically improved Nile tilapia by use of crossbreeding and YY-male technology to obtain superior growth performance. 1. Fed and maintained Nile Tilapia (GIFT strain, FishGen strain, YY Red strain, and YY Dark/Wild-type strains) at Kentucky State University (Production and Technologies Building, Aquaculture Research Center) to preserve and maintain germplasm of genetically improved Tilapia intended for crosses to produce fish for small-scale, limited resource Kentucky farmers and businesses. 2. Prepared recirculating aquaculture systems for spawning and egg incubation; installed four new biofiltration and solids removal units for each Nile Tilapia Spawning System and modified hatching recirculating system for McDonald Jar set-up for egg incubation; added in-line heater to hatching system. Ordered supplies to maintain and upgrade hatching and spawning systems. 3. Performed crosses of Red Nile Tilapia YY-Males with females of the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain, and collected and incubated eggs for hatching and rearing. 4.Coordinated with organizational representatives of the Stewart Home & School, a special needs facility https://stewarthome.com to provide work opportunity to Alice Truelove to assist in project implementation, to obtain unique and valuable perspective as we accomplish tasks, and increase workplace sensitivity, awareness, inclusion, and diversity. She works on routine tasks for system and fish husbandry. 5.Identified two companies for purchase of three strains of YY males and mixed sex Nile Tilapia: (a) Fishgen Ltd (United Kingdom), and (b) Gardsfisk AB (Sweden). These are the only two Tilapia YY producers in the world known up to now. Vendor information was obtained for vendor registration at Kentucky State University for purchase and payments for broodstock fish. We applied for a US Fish and Wildlife importation license, and continued to advance the process for purchase of YY Nile Tilapia to secure and gain new germplasm. The YY males we had are currently too old and very few. 6. Research Assistantship for Graduate Student, Cole Daleiden, wasfunded through this project award. Cole is from Minnesota, USA and he has successfully integrated into KSU's School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, and he has immersed himself in activities related to Objectives 1 and 2 in this project. Cole mentors and supervises a high school intern, Jacey Langley, from Frankfort High School (FHS) in Frankfort, KY. Jacey is providing volunteer work and works alongside Cole as part of Jacey's graduation requirements for FHS. 7. YY males from two strains (Til-Aqua YY and Fishgen YY) were crossed with XX females from the GIFT and Fishgen strains to produce five progeny cohorts (mean of 170 fish per cohort). In total 848 fish were produced. Objective 2. Implement on-farm Nile tilapia growth demonstration projects using fish genetic resources developed at Kentucky State University. 1. Reared fry obtained from crosses of Red Nile Tilapia YY-Males and females of the GIFT strain in preparation for on-farm demonstration of growth. 2. Conditionedmixed-sex GIFT strain of Nile Tilapia to perform crosses to maintain and expand broodstock genetic resources at the Aquaculture Research Center. These fish are broodstock lines that will produce fish for on-farm demonstrations. 3.Coordinated with Co-Investigator Jeffery Warner on production of Nile Tilapia fingerlings to provide farmers for on-farm demonstration of growth, and coordinated delivery of fish to farms. 4.Work in progress for production of fast growing cross (Red Nile Tilapia YY-Males crossbred with females of the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia strain for on-farm growthdemonstration. 5.Small-scale cage systems (1 meter cube in volume) were designed and built as pilot models ofSmall and inexpensive fish culture systems for use with existing ponds. This work was done byProject Co-Investigator Jeffrey Warner. Objective 3. Build extension resources to facilitate and evaluate the marketing and sales of locally produced aquaculture products in ethnic and community local markets serving minority and limited-resource stakeholders and local consumers. 1. Communicated with Key-Personnel (Dr. Marcus Bernard) for planning and implementation of this objective. Objective 4.Develop human nutrition outreach programs and resources for training and education of field Extension agents (Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky), minority and limited-resource stakeholders, Small-Scale Farmers, and the general public. 1. Communicated with Key-Personnel (Nilima Mishra, Co-Investigator) for planning and implementation of this objective. She developed training material and planned for KSU Extension agent training on the topic: 'Tilapia as a source of lean protein and other nutrients'. 2.Worked withNilima Mishra, Project-Co-Investigator, for training of Extension personnell by development of teaching modules for learning about healthy choices and healthy preparation of locally produced Nile Tilapia, Channel Catfish, and other US farmed aquaculture products. 3. Developed video content that was uploaded online in the Youtube Channels for KYSUAG (KSU College of Agriculture, Communities and the Sciences) and KSUAquaculture (School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences). The videos produced form part of 'Fin to Fork' video series that include four main areas: 1)How to select a healthy whole fish (Tilapia), 2)How to obtain fillets from a whole tilapia, 3)Cooking Nigerian Peppersoup with Whole Tilapia, and 4) Cooking Demonstration for Pan-Seared Tilapia and Spinach.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Iniguez, J. and Novelo, N.D. 2022. Ultrasound Imaging An Instrumental Reproductive Technology for Tilapia Broodstock Management. Oral presentation at the Aquaculture Conference of the World Aquaculture Society, San Diego, CA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Novelo, N.D., Fox, D., Lohman, A., and Loftus, M. 2022. Formation of the Kentucky State University United States Aquaculture Society Student Sub-unit and Activities Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic. Poster presentation at the Aquaculture Conference of the World Aquaculture Society, San Diego, CA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Adebayo, O., M. Loftus, Mishra, N., Weibel, C., and Novelo, N. 2023. Encouraging Healthy Living Through Development of Tasty Recipes, Healthy Cooking, and Educational Videos Based on Lean Protein from Locally Grown Nile Tilapia. Poster Presentation, Aquaculture America 2023 Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
C. Daleiden and Novelo, N. 2023. Improvement of Genetically Enhanced Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus at Kentucky State University. Poster Presentation, Aquaculture America 2023 Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
J. L. Warner, Novelo, N., Gomelsky, B., Daleiden, C. and Iniguez, J. 2023. Alternative Methods for Small-Scale Tilapia Culture. Poster Presentation, Aquaculture America 2023 Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Novelo, N. 2023. Support it! Plan it! Just do it! Lead the effort to increase diversity and inclusion at your workplace. Oral Presentation, Aquaculture America 2023 Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA
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Progress 04/01/21 to 03/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience included 1. Extension personnel at Kentucky State University and at the University of Kentucky (Specialists, agents, and other extension agents), and Extension audience in the World Aquaculture Society. 2. Small-scale, rural, and minority farmers in Kentucky, and two tilapia hatcheries (one in Kentucky and one in Indiana). 3. Members of the Kentucky Aquaculture Association. 4. Graduate, Undergraduate, & High school students. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The training and professional development opportunities that the project has provided is tremendous and far-reaching. The main activities regarding training were based on training of Extension personnel to increase knowledge on the opportunities for expanding our nutritional and food resources in a local production and local economy context. All key personnel in this project developed training and educational oral presentations that were delivered in various meetings throughout the year. We had an opportunity for everyone involved in leadership in the project to identify areas for improvement, for example, in cases were the individual did not have high skill level and experience in oral presentations. It provided opportunities for increased inter-personal and personal skills in dealing with co-workers, farmers, Extension personnel, and with new networks that were developed as a consequence of planning training and capacity building of small-scale, rural farmers and potential leaders. For example, the capacitation project in providing leadership training to the Kentucky Aquaculture Association and participating in the Annual Meeting of the KAA led to this project's key personnel to form new networks of collaboration, while at the same time sharing information on this Capacity Building Tilapia Extension Project to members of the KAA. Another meaningful impact is in the education and exposure to hands-on experience in fish reproduction, egg collection, rearing and production systems to minority anddiverse student group from different academic levels:High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate students. One isolated example of this is ofa Shelby County High School student who participated in Nile Tilapia spawning and egg collection activities as part of her high school course requirement. She, along with graduate students in the 'Fish Spawning and Reproduction Laboratory Class' offered by KSU were involved in practical hatchery production activities based on this project's activities related to objectives 1 and 2. This project clearly benefits a wide range of people in different but interracting and interconnected networks, and it has provided essential training and professional development opportunities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The main forms of dissemination to the communities of interest include: 1. All the Key-Personnel in this projectprovided information and training at various 2021 Professional Conferences and Meetings specifically designed to target minority and limited-resource audiences, Extension personnel, small-scale, rural farmers, and small businesses. 2. Student Internships and hands-on experience in hatchery production for on-farm demonstrations. 3. Social media posts, in the first year mainly through Facebook posts. One facebook post, for example, related to broodstock management and tagging for identification reached 5,173 people. Another facebook post of the Shelby High School student learning about Nile Tilapia reproduction, collection of eggs, and rearing for on-farm growth reached 4,165 people. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan for accomplishing these goals will include the following actions: 1. Hold Project Key Personnel meetings at the beginning of each quarter to plan and coordinate activities and discuss outcome and impact for each of the four goals. 2. Increase communication between myself (Project Director),Co-Directors and Co-Investigators regarding our specific roles and responsibilities for each goal; and establish a work/action plan,timeline, and evaluation of impact for each goal. 3. Development of strategic planning for dissemination of results and resources for each objective that includes all the project's key personnel. 4. Clarification of expectations, activities, roles of key personnel in achieving each objective in order to encourage and motivate the project leaders to fulfill objectives. 5. Obtain support and commitment from a new graduate student to assist in the accomplishment of the project objectives.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The implementation of this Capacity Buildling Tilapia-based Extension Project is of tremendous value to increasing awareness of food production and the importance of increasing ourself-relianceon local food production that will expand agriculture products and address the economic and healthy well-being of people in Kentucky, neighboring states and the nation as a whole. The project introduces an opportunity for growth in our agriculture sector that embraces local economy sustainability of small-scale and minority farmers through diversification. It provides hands-on opportunities for farmers to grow fish that have been genetically improved for faster growth at Kentucky State University to explore the on-farm growth and the marketing and sales potential of this fish. The project is structured in a way that combines transfer of research knowledge and product (genetically improved Nile Tilapia) for on-farm growth demonstrations while incorporating data collection on marketing and sales, and targeting increased awareness of healthy eating to address problems of obesity that overwhelm our communities. We need to be able to produce food locally for local consumption while building healthy eating habits to address health disparities present in minority groups and limited-resource families in our communities. This project provides the opportunityfor a systematic data collection for planning increased diversification and local food productiion through development and distribution of resources (brochures, training videos, and guidance) that will enable individuals, families, Extension personnel that work in local communities, high school/undergraduate and graduate students, and small businesses to increase their awareness on the value of our local production systems, and integrating this knowledge and the resources provided into long term planning and action towards a more sustainable and thriving local economy and healthier living. The accomplishments for the first year period (04-01-2021 to 03-31-2022) for each of the following objectives include: Objective 1.Produce genetically improved Nile tilapia by use of crossbreeding and YY-male technology to obtain superior growth performance. I. ObtainedNile Tilapia broodstock of the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia strain to strengthen and expand our genetic resources at Kentucky State University. II. Upgraded and improved the recirculating systems used for reproductive conditioning of Nile Tilapia broodstock, spawning (reproduction), hatching and rearing. III. Performed crosses of YY males and GIFT females in preparation for on-farm growth demonstrations. IV.Provided training on Nile Tilapia aquaculture, reproduction, hatchery, and water quality for system husbandry at various2021 conferences, meetings and training workshops. This included the Annual Kentucky Aquaculture Association Meeting, the Annual In-Service Training for Agriculture & Natural Resources at Kentucky State University, the Kentucky State University Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmer Conference,Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service State Extension Conference,World Aquaculture Society Conference - Aquaculture America 2021 at the Education and Extension Session. Examples of the titles and presenters included: Title: 'Aquaculture, Tilapia Aquaculture, and Introduction to the Kentucky State University Extension-Based Tilapia Capacity Building Project.'Presenter: Dr. Noel Novelo Title. 'Genetic Improvement of Tilapia - Possibilities and Challenges.'Presenter: Project Co-Director, Boris Gomelsky. Title: 'Introduction to Tilapia Feeding Methods and Water Quality Parameters'.Presenter: Mr. Jeffrey Warner, Project Co-Investigator. Title: 'Building a Multi-Disciplinary Pathway to Tilapia Aquaculture in Kentucky' Presenter: Dr. Noel Novelo. Objective 2.Implement on-farm Nile tilapia growth demonstration projects using fish genetic resources developed at Kentucky State University. 1. In preparation for the project's second year implementation, we obtained additional GIFT strain Nile Tilapia Broodstock. 2. Produced fry obtained by crosses of Red YY-Male and GIFT strain of Nile Tilapia, and contacted four rural, small-scale farmers to ensure support and participation in on-farm growth demonstration. The fish produced was grown for diverse on-farm production systems including: recirculating systems, in-pond racewayand in-pond cage systems. 3. Obtained audio-visual equipment and intruments to document on-farm growth activities for use in training and increased awareness of local food production opportunities. Objective 3.Build extension resources to facilitate and evaluate the marketing and sales of locally produced aquaculture products in ethnic and community local markets serving minority and limited-resource stakeholders and local consumers. I. Provided training to Extensiion Personnel at theAnnual In-Service Training for Agriculture & Natural Resources at Kentucky State University. Title:'Market Development for Small and Socially Disadvantaged Producers.'Presenter: Dr. Marcus Bernard (Project Co-Director). II. Work on developing survey tools for evaluation of marketing and sales is in progress. Objective 4.Develop human nutrition outreach programs and resources for training and education of field Extension agents (Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky), minority and limited-resource stakeholders, Small-Scale Farmers, and the general public. I. Provided a nutrition county Extension staff virtual training session during the Annual In-Service Training for Agriculture & Natural Resources at Kentucky State University. 'Introduction to new programming resources for including Tilapia fish as source of lean protein in everyday diet.'Presenter: Nilima Mishra (Project Co-Investigator). II. Developed and prepared oral presentation on Tilapia fish as a source of lean protein in dietat Kentucky State University Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmer Conference.Presenter: Nilima Mishra (Project Co-Investigator). III. Prepared and delivered an oral presentation explaining the Tilapia Capacity Building Project and the human nutrition objective of the project at the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service State Extension Conference.Presenter: Nilima Mishra (Project Co-Investigator). IV. Purchased audio-visual equipment and instruments for demonstrating, recording and disseminating cooking procedures, recipes, and other resources to educate our target audience on healthy cooking and eating habits and integration of locally produced foods including fish and other aquaculture products into our diet.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Novelo, N.D., Gomelsky, B., Bernard, M., Warner, J., Grimes, K., Mishra, N., and Weibel, C. 2021. Building a Multi-Disciplinary Pathway to Tilapia Aquaculture in Kentucky. Extension Session Abstract in Aquaculture America 2021 International Conference & Exposition of the World Aquaculture Society, San Antonio, Texas.
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