Vertical farming has burned through billions of dollars since exploding into mainstream agriculture. The return on investment hasn’t penciled out the way investors, growers, and consumers had hoped. Meanwhile, farmers growing using farms, systems, and equipment from The Aquaponic Source have been quietly growing food for nearly a decade and are still above water.
Billions of dollars have been invested in vertical farming over the last decade or more. Most of the billions that had been invested in vertical farming has gone up in flames, and the reasons for those failures have been discussed ad nauseam.
Proponents of vertical farming are calling this a course correction but it has been astonishing to see the repetition of proven mistakes. Large amounts of money, time and resources have been wasted with investors and ag-tech companies going too big too fast.
It’s time to start talking about what is working. Since 2015, The Aquaponic Source, has been building and supporting aquaponic farmers all across the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Farms range anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 sq ft. Head lettuce production can range between 2,500 to 25,000 heads a month while also producing edible fish as a protein source.
Aquaponic farms recirculate water between fish and plants without discharging it into the environment. This is particularly critical given that the entire western half of the US is experiencing historic droughts.
The aquaponic farms we design are ‘right size’ for the farmer, their goals and their markets. Many have been operating for several years with some approaching their decade anniversary of actively producing high quality products in their communities.
They have established strong brands with loyal followings creating local jobs, strengthening the local food shed, and producing the freshest, most nutritious products closest to the consumer.
Some farms also serve as education hubs, creating additional income while training the next generation of farmers.
Is this profitable and how much money are they making? The short and truthful answer is probably not much. At the end of the day, it is still farming. Margins are thin and operating costs continue to rise.
But here’s the point… They’re still farming!
They’re still producing food while the vast majority of multi million dollar vertical farms have collapsed under the weight of their own hubris. Some burned through millions without ever growing a single head of lettuce. If your only measurement of success is shareholder returns, then vertical farming missed the point a long time ago.
We need to grow more food closer to the consumer and while that was often the stated goal of vertical farms, it simply didn’t work. All the while, aquaponic farmers have been quietly growing food and perfecting the art and science of aquaponic farming.
Thoughtfully designed aquaponic farms that maximize the farmers’ potential for success while creating meaningful impact on their communities through the production of healthy produce, fish protein, jobs, water conservation and educational programs are the farms that are going to continue feeding our communities for decades to come.
Timberview Farmstead Aquaponic Greenhouse
Nancy Mattingly, an Example of an Example
Meet Our Farmers
Marine Education Initiative
National Council of/for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD)
