Why Aquaponics?

Why Aquaponics?

It may be the most sustainable way on the planet (or even in outer space) to grow food.

• Aquaponics is a natural, organic process that can produce safe and nutritional food using about 90% less water than conventional dirt gardening, and growing up to 50% faster. There are NO PESTICIDES used in an aquaponic system.
• Besides growing a tremendous amount of plants in a small area aquaponics produces fish and sometimes even shrimp.
• In aquaponics NOTHING IS WASTED, fish provide nutrients necessary to grow plants while the plants and naturally occurring beneficial bacteria purify the water to keep the fish healthy.

Aquaponics combines the best qualities of Aquaculture and Hydroponics.

Aquaculture - Fish have been raised for food since around 2000 B.C. by the ancient Egyptians. Aquaculture is the fastest growing form of food production in the world. The U.S. has an annual seafood trade deficit of $ 9 billion, the third largest component of the trade deficit behind oil and cars.  We import 84% of the seafood we eat, up 63% from a decade ago and half of that is farm raised.

Hydroponics – About 160 years ago scientists discovered that plants could thrive given optimum conditions.   Plants grown without soil had increased growth rates, yield, and improved flavor.

The Aztec Indians raised plants on rafts on the surface of a lake in approximately 1,000 A.D.

Growing Food Locally is important to the community. According to the United States department of Agriculture 12.8 million people in Illinois spend $48 billion a year on food and $46 billion was imported. Fruits and Vegetables travel an average of 1500 miles to get to our plates.

Aquaponics can provide many hands-on opportunities to learn SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING, and MATH. The Midwest Aquaponic Sustainable Food Production System and systems similar to it not only provide a locally grown source of food, but also provide countless opportunities to explore agricultural and nutritional sciences, aquaculture, biology, chemistry, hydrology, solar applications, heat collection, storage and transfer, piping systems and fluid friction losses, wind power, and rainwater harvesting and vermiculture to name just a few.  

By extending the growing season to allow year round food production and utilizing the greenhouse as an incubator, the Wolf Pack is working diligently to find innovative ways to end food deserts and produce locally grown food to help eliminate hunger.