Free Republic

On a 13-acre plot of land located a mile north of Holyoke, Jose Varela is quietly pushing the boundaries of both agriculture and aquaculture. The career trucker and operator of EVD Trucking is setting up an aquaponics operation on his family’s property, and has his sights set on providing sustainable, locally-grown produce for Holyoke businesses. “We’re the only ones I know of that are doing this locally,” he said. Aquaponics combines hydroponics — a technique that grows plants in a nutrient-rich water solution, sometimes among rocks or gravel, rather than soil — with traditional aquaculture, creating a system of food...

The modern day aquaponic system, which has its roots in South China and Southeast Asia, is rapidly gaining in popularity. Here on home soil, an aquaponic farm in the rolling hills of Ndwedwe, which was established by a group of big-hearted Durban University of Technology (DUT) students back in 2016, continues to thrive. From subsistence farming in rural areas, to large-scale commercial farming in peri-urban areas, as well as vertical and indoor farming by hobbyists to feed neighbours and beautify urban spaces, when it comes to aquaponics, the possibilities are endless. Situated in the Noodsberg community, the project came about...

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A company that uses fish waste to grow organic baby lettuce and arugula plans to create 21 new jobs in Northern Virginia. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's office announced Friday that Kappa Farms will invest $865,000 to open a new "aquaponics" operation in Loudoun County....

Here’s one way to grow food in an urban environment: Raise a school of tilapia in a tank. Filter out the nitrogen-rich waste, and let naturally occurring bacteria transform it from ammonia into nitrate. Run that naturally derived fertilizer beneath the roots of greens, herbs and peppers. Let the veggies flourish beneath LED lights. Harvest the vegetables. Later, harvest the fish. Cook and serve. Known as aquaponics, this complicated but efficient ecosystem is the latest attempt at making agriculture commercially viable in New York City—even though it has a spotty history, a not-quite-proven track record and plenty of skeptics. “We...