Tarleton State University

Awards Issued Prior to January 20, 2025, Were Funded Under Previous Administrations and May Not Reflect the Priorities and Policies of the Current Administration. 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 Undoubtedlycontinue 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 Andlearning 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.