32 MARCH 2023 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG TABLE 1. Plant value comparison of lettuce varieties grown in an aquaponic system at the University of the Virgin Islands. Adapted from Bailey and Ferrarezi (2017). Lettuce Density Growth Value Value Value variety (plants/m2) period (wk) ($/head) ($/m2) ($/m2 per wk) Parris Island Romaine 16 4 0.87-0.92 13.92-14.72 3.48-3.68 Boston Bibb 30 3 0.75-0.92 22.50-27.60 7.50-9.20 availability and labor cost (Goddek and Kröer 2019). In simpler terms, to make a profit, the price and volume of product sold must exceed production costs with a reasonable return on investment (ROI). With the emergence of YouTube experts, what is practical and profitable can be clouded by what is eyecatching or new. To develop a comprehensive overview of the aquaponics industry, an international survey of aquaponic growers was conducted in 2019. Survey results identified current practices, challenges for producers, production numbers and areas of need (Pattillo 2021). Ultimately, the challenges reported by 378 respondents were grouped into ten categories (Pattillo et al. 2022a), with the most relevant ones for economic viability presented below. Respondents self-identified as a hobbyist, producer or educator. In this article, we will primarily discuss those who identified as a producer. Production Challenges Experienced by Aquaponic Producers Challenge 1: Facilities, Location and System Design Perhaps the most logical place that financial challenges begin is with the costs of construction and the structure where systems are housed. Eighty-five percent of producers surveyed were located in temperate or subtropical climate zones, necessitating the use of a greenhouse or indoor facility to grow year-round. The upfront cost of building a facility that optimizes environmental control and system efficiency adds years to a potential ROI. It is not uncommon for aquaponic businesses in the temperate climate of Kentucky, for example, to spend upwards of $300,000 on a system with automated temperature controls. That is a big pill to swallow for most, but it allows for year-round production and is required to conserve heat and electricity. Facilities located in warmer climates (e.g., plant hardiness zones 7 through 13) are 4.17 times more likely to be profitable (Love et al. 2015a). Over half of the 145 producers surveyed were in rural areas, compared to 29 percent in urban or industrial areas. Rural land is less expensive and often does not have the same zoning restrictions as property located near cities. However, producers located in rural settings will likely need to travel farther to markets, which leads to a need to increase retail price to offset fuel and labor costs. Controlled environment agriculture allows farmers to manipulate temperature, humidity, light intensity and duration to improve crop performance, extend the growing season, shield crops from harmful weather conditions and exclude pests. The expense of constructing and operating these facilities can be quite high. In our survey, 47 percent of producers grew in a greenhouse, 35 percent grew indoors and 21 percent grew outdoors. Although greenhouses don’t retain heat very well, they give growers access to sunlight for their plants. Conversely, it is easier for indoor production systems to maintain temperature, but they solely depend on light from artificial grow lights, leading to electrical costs of up to seven times that of greenhouses (Avgoustaki and Xydis FIGURE 1. Proportion of aquaponics farms using Good Aquaculture Practices and Best Aquaculture Practices certification systems for their products.
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