Recipient Organization
TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY - TIAER
201 Saint Felix Street
STEPHENVILLE,TX 76402
Performing Department
Wildlife Sustainability & Ecos
Non Technical Summary
Agricultural food production must increase with human population, but production will have to do so with less arable land and less freshwater. This is a critical issue as a majority of our food is produced using soil-based agriculture techniques in breadbasket locations which require large amounts of both arable land and freshwater. Additionally, this decrease in arable land and freshwater is only expected to be further exacerbated by the effects of climate change and increased growth across the urban-rural continuum. While soil-based agriculture production is a major catalyst of climate change, it is also a major victim of the effects of climate change. The USDA estimated that from 1980-2010 over $700 billion worth of crop losses were caused by over 90 extreme events (droughts, floods, tornadoes, etc.) that each resulted in more than $1 billion worth of damages. In 2020, there were a record setting 22 $1 billion disasters caused by extreme weather events. This number will undoubtedly continue to increase as a result of today's climate conditions, which will continue to result in huge crop and economic losses. It is not ecologically nor economically sustainable to continue relying heavily on soil-based agriculture. Therefore, we must adopt alternative agriculture systems that are closer to markets and use less-resources (fresh water, arable land, and petroleum-based chemicals) to produce higher yields in order to achieve food security for a growing population in an ever-changing climate.One alternative agriculture production system with increasing global recognition as a solution to some of the near future issues agriculture production faces is aquaponics. Aquaponics integrates recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and soilless plant production (hydroponics) into a single closed/semi-closed loop system. Aquaponics does not require arable land and produces more per square foot with 90% less water than traditional soil-based production and without using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Additionally, aquaponics can be integrated virtually anywhere with access to freshwater and electricity. The integration of two advanced production technologies (RAS and hydroponics) has created an equally efficient yet less environmentally impactful production system when compared to RAS, hydroponics, or soil-based agriculture alone. However, aquaponics is still considered a new and emerging alternative agriculture system that lacks skilled personnel and has technical challenges associated with the technology that are considered critical and must be addressed in order to continue facilitating this market growth. Some of these critical challenges are nutrient availability, infrastructure and component costs, system design improvements, annual environmental control costs (e.g., heating the water during cold weather), financing, and waste management. Replicated large-scale aquaponic research systems incorporated into institutions of higher learning have the ability to provide students and researchers with a valuable multidisciplinary tool to address critical issues faced by aquaponic producers. However, the dissemination of the information through established extension and industry networks is required to help build a stronger local and regional industry network. Building a stronger aquaponic network and industry will be crucial to allow for the continual growth of the industry. The growth of the aquaponics industry will benefit the agriculture sector by building a healthier, more resilient, localized, and productive industry, which benefits the local, national, and global economy.This project intends to blend research from replicated large-scale media bed aquaponic systems with education and extension in an effort to address critical needs that hinder the growth of the aquaponic industry. Dr. Hennen Cummings of TSU will serve as the PI for this grant. Research would be conducted at The Hydrotron, an aquaponic demonstration greenhouse and learning center at TSU. Symbiotic Aquaponic LLC would partner with the university in effort to bridge the gap between industry and institution-led research. Symbiotic Aquaponic will help build the replicated systems, connect local producers, contribute to curriculum building and workshop activities with Dr. Cummings, his students, and the community. The overarching goal of this project is to provide novel aquaponic research and critical extension support for the industry that continues beyond the duration of this project. This will be done by training skilled personnel and conducting research that provides producers with biological solutions to improve production and efficiency of their media bed systems, improve profitability of aquaponic production, addresses food security, and establishes an aquaponic extension outreach center at Tarleton State University. In order to achieve the projects goal, multiple objectives will be undertaken. These include: 1) Four research projects, 2) Two-part free virtual workshop series, 3) Enhanced aquaponics curriculum, 4) Three-part factsheet, 5) One Texas statewide survey, 6) 2+ Peer-reviewed Journal publications, and 7) 6+ experienced and skilled students involved in aquaponics. Overall this project intends to strengthen the aquaponics industry by generating meaningful data that can be applied to commercial aquaponic production, providing technical assistance to any producer through the extension outreach center, and spark aquaponic collaborations within and outside the state of Texas. By strengthening the aquaponics industry, we are diversifying the agricultural industry, while strengthening food security, and producing food in a manner that is significantly less harmful to the environment.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
50%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this project is to provide novel agriculture research and critical extension support for the aquaponics industry by training skilled personnel and conducting research that provides producers with biological solutions to improve production and efficiency of their media bed systems and to establish an extension outreach center at Tarleton State University. In order to achieve this goal, three main objectives encompass this project: A) Critical Research, B) Critical Extension, and C) Continuation Plan.Critical Research The research will seek to increase production through biological solutions within media bed aquaponic systems. These biological solutions intend to provide a cost-effective way of diversifying and improving system efficiency in terms of nutrient availability, plant nutrient uptake, and waste management. Both undergraduate and graduate students will be employed to conduct novel research that provides needed data for the aquaponic industry and also provides solutions for increasing media bed aquaponic production. By relying on students this project will also provide training and create skilled individuals that are equipped to operate within the aquaponics industry. Four separate studies will be undertaken as part of the research objective these studies are listed below. The studies with an "**" at the end of the title are intended to be graduate student thesis projects while the other two projects are intended to be undergraduate research projects.- Evaluate the use of Mexican scuds, Hyalella Azteca, in media bed aquaponic systems and compare systems receiving scuds with systems not receiving scuds. **- Evaluate the use of aerobic biodigestion (mineralization) for orthophosphate recovery from fish effluent removed from aquaponic systems receiving scuds and no scuds overtime.- Evaluate the use of black solider fly larvae (BSFL) as a decomposer of unusable fish and plant parts generated in aquaponics.- Evaluate the use of Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms (PGPM) in aquaponic media bed systems. **Critical Extension will consist of creating an outreach center at Tarleton State University (TSU) that will distribute data and results produced from the critical research to stakeholders, practitioners, educators, community members, and fellow researchers. Throughout the duration of this project, the outreach center will also provide two free workshops, three factsheets, creation of Aquaponics 2 Course, and a survey of Texas aquaponic practitioners. These extension deliverables will be created and delivered through the TSU and Symbiotic partnership. The two workshops and factsheets will be used to serve TSU stakeholders and to provide a free learning opportunity for interested individuals regionally and nationally. The survey will be used to assess the scale of aquaponic production within Texas as well as the issues that producers face. Additionally, critical extension will consist of building an aquaponics curriculum at TSU to attract more prospective students who are interested in learning more about aquaponics. Attracting prospective students to Tarleton is important, as it is an associate member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and it has been recognized as an emerging Hispanic serving institution with 21% of their students coming from a Hispanic or Latino ethnic background. Involving minority students in an up-and-coming industry is critical to ensuring a diverse group of skilled personnel is available in this job market.The two workshops are listed below:Workshop 1: Basic and Advanced productionWorkshop 2: Community/STEM ImplicationsThe three factsheets are listed below:Factsheet 1: System Design and OperationFactsheet 2: Waste ManagementFactsheet 3: Improving Profitability of AquaponicsContinuation Plan will be implemented to ensure that both the Critical Research and Extension will continue beyond the duration of this project. This continuation plan will utilize the survey to provide focused research projects that address the issues that aquaponic practitioners face in the state of Texas. Additionally, the continuation plan would ensure a continuous stream of skilled laborers and future researchers beyond the duration of this project by offering advanced aquaponic curriculum, workforce development trainings, and research opportunities at TSU. Many high school groups, potential Tarleton students, boy scouts, girl scouts, FFA, 4H, Leadership Stephenville, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and entrepreneurs will continue to tour the facility.
Project Methods
A) Efforts:- Development of aquaponic curriculum and laboratory instruction for the Aquaponic (AQP) 2 Course that will be offered at TSU. Hennen Cummings and other TSU staff will direct this effort. This course would be offered in the 2022 fall semester following the spring AQP 1 class and would require the completion of the AQP 1 course. This course will build off the AQP 1 course and will offer practical learning outcomes that focus on three main categories: 1) water quality and plant health, 2) fish production and reproduction, and 3) greenhouse management. The water quality and plant health content will focus on the instruments and meters used to determine water quality and plant health. Learning will be aided through hands-on activity coupled by informational tasks that cover why these parameters are important for production and research. For the fish production and reproduction, students will learn fish reproduction, so they can create a self-sustaining fish population and prevent fish disease. The fish breeding system already present at TSU will be a hands-on tool that will allow students to work hands-on with fish reproduction. Lastly, students will learn greenhouse management that includes proper IPM, environmental control, and things to consider when utilizing a greenhouse for production. Overall, the AQP 2 class will enhance the learning opportunities offered at TSU regarding AQP and will help prepare students to become knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced workers for the aquaponics industry.- Development of aquaponic workshop material for the free two-part aquaponic workshop series. The workshops along with a brief background are listed below:Workshop 1: Basic and Advanced productionThis workshop will cover a variety of topics that include system construction, design, operation, and production. This workshop will be delivered by Dr. Hennen Cummings of TSU and Kaben Smallwood/Josh Dusci of Symbiotic Aquaponic.Workshop 2: Community/STEM ImplicationsThis workshop will cover food sovereignty, food safety, and food security. TSU will incorporate this workshop with its Youth Camp to provide a hands-on learning experience. Kaben Smallwood and Regina Greuel-Cook from Symbiotic Aquaponic will assist Dr. Hennen Cummings with delivering this content.- Development of aquaponic factsheet information for the free three-part aquaponic factsheet series. The factsheets along with a brief background are listed below:Factsheet 1: System Design and OperationThis factsheet will focus on common and uncommon system designs and the advantages and disadvantages of each design. This factsheet will also focus on calculating feed inputs, planting densities, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and pre- /post-harvest considerations.Factsheet 2: Waste ManagementThis factsheet will focus on waste management within aquaponics and will incorporate the results from Research projects 1-3. The factsheet will be updated as results from the projects become available.Factsheet 3: Improving Profitability of AquaponicsThis factsheet will focus on the economics behind aquaponics and what can help increase profits in certain locations. The results from research projects 1-4 will be incorporated and the factsheet will be updated as results from the projects become available.- Generating aquaponic media bed research data through the four separate research projects. These projects are designed to produce data that can be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal (Frontiers of Sustainable Agriculture). Research will be conducted on six replicated media bed systems (250 gal/system). These replicated systems will allow for proper statistical analysis to be conducted using ANOVA's and Least Significant Differences (LSD) tests. Once the data has been collected and analyzed, determining how to apply research outcomes to be useful for aquaponic practitioners will also be a key part of this project. Overall the research intends to lead to biological solutions to critical problems for aquaponic production, which include increasing system efficiency, increasing plant nutrient uptake, waste management, and improving the profitability of aquaponic production. Along with providing biological solutions to critical issues, this research will also allow for the training of skilled personnel (undergraduate and graduate students) to be prepared for aquaponic industry, which lacks skilled personnel.- Generating data from statewide survey to utilize for continuation plan. This statewide survey will be conducted by Tarleton using the assistance of Symbiotic Aquaponic and their industry connections within Texas, which include Texas State University, Texas A&M (Kingsville), Sam Houston University, and the 15+ clients that Symbiotic has delivered various sized systems to. Additionally, support from The Aquaponics Association will be relied on to provide a list of affiliates located within Texas. TSU will also actively advertise this survey to the public and to their stakeholders, which include Sustainable Harvesters (Hockley, TX), Breeden Fresh Farms (Terrell, TX), and East Texas Aquaponics (Mineola, TX). The educators include Stephenville High School, Independent School District, various FFA and 4H groups, Cesar Chaves Public Charter Schools, and Farming For The Future (Texas A&M) Program. This will allow for the statewide survey to reach as many aquaponic practitioners within Texas as possible. This statewide survey intends to provide insight as to what critical issues are currently hindering aquaponic producers in Texas. This insight will then be used to create future research and extension projects to address these issues for producers.B) Evaluation:- 100% completion of research projects and two successful peer-reviewed publications- 75+ workshop attendees per workshop- 60+ participants with statewide survey- 20+ students involved in Aquaponic 2 course each year after the creation- 50+ tours given annually of systems and outreach center- 6+ skilled laborers enter aquaponic job market- 500+ views and 100+ downloads of factsheets within first year of publicationIn order to assess the evaluation process, Dr. Cummings and TSU will send the funding agency quarterly and annual reports regarding the status of these evaluation marks.All research data will be collected in a non-digital format then transferred to digital for analysis and access. Data will include fish and plant production parameters, water quality, and other conditions of AQP systems. Manual data will be collected from test systems daily/weekly, with a total amount of data not to exceed two pages per day. Data will then be transferred to Microsoft Excel, which will not require significant storage space. Data collection is not highly iterative. The largest amount of data will be the two thesis research projects (Project 1: Scuds and Project 4: PGPM).All other data regarding participation and downloads/views will be actively recorded by TSU and will be included on the quarterly and annual reports.Use of funds will be actively recorded by TSU and will be included on the quarterly and annual reports to show transparency throughout the funding period.