Community Aquaponics is the HOT NEW TREND

Commercial and community aquaponics systems have now proven themselves over the last two decades and are becoming more effective and efficient as the technology improves. Many people are contributing to the movement and it now appears that community aquaponics has finally arrived as a viable alternative to the easily disrupted food supply and the huge increase in the demand for locally grown, pesticide free food.

For investors looking for an ROI in the two to four year range, a construction company looking for a new arena to expand into over the next decade or two or even a Ministry of Agriculture or an NGO wanting to improve the lives of local people, community aquaponics is a viable option to address their desired outcomes to provide food and work for local people.

The large community installations employ local people on both a temporary (building the systems) and permanent basis (operating, harvesting and planting) and contribute to the local economy. The initial markets are necessarily local markets; resort hotels, high-end restaurants, foodies and specialty markets catering to the wealthy. Within the next few years, community aquaponics systems will contribute to local food supplies on a much broader scale (supermarkets and institutional growing for schools and prisons), but initially they may only contribute to the local economy through job creation.

For instance: An investor group planning to install a commercial (10,000 sq ft – 1/4 acre, 1,000m2) Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems next to a restaurant in a major US city. Here is what they are planning to accomplish with their very first installation:

1. Showcase the use of aquaponics as a LOCAL FOOD SOURCE

2. Deliver locally grown, pesticide free vegetables to their customers not treated with chemicals

3. Place locally grown fresh-water healthy fish on the menu that were not treated with chemicals or any kind

4. Reduce transportation costs for most vegetables to ZERO

5. Serve food that was harvested on the DAY it was meant to be harvested which enhances both the flavor and the nutritional content of the food

6. Dramatically reduces their carbon footprint

7. Reduces storage costs because the food is harvested as needed

8. Reduces prep time because the crops are harvested only as needed

9. Supply their patrons with the excess production at regular store prices.

Plus the investor group will also reap these benefits:

1. Realize an ROI of two to four years

2. Net-net income for 1/4 acre is approximately US$100,000 or more depending on restaurant margins and the selection of crops you grow and sell to them

3. Become their own supplier for many of the vegetables they now purchase through wholesalers

4. Have the marketing lead to themselves in their niche for at least two years

5. Become local spokespersons for using local suppliers and growers

6. Offers owners ‘bragging rights’ to attract news coverage in the media. Also offers a ‘hook’ for advertising and articles about their aquaponics system to talk about on their website to boast the use of locally grown organic food that was planted, raised and harvested onsite or locally. This alone is worth its price of investment. Word travels fast and people will drive for miles to experience an innovative approach in dining and shopping.