Brutal or realistic? What is your opinion about it?

[BenHehle Beamz]

Dr. Lennard on AP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WUgojSG...

[Sylvia Bernstein]

I had an email exchange with Wilson this morning.  The video was taken down at his request.  His understanding when it was shot was that it was not going to be posted on YouTube and given that understanding he said things in a way that he might not have said them if he knew that it was going to go up on YouTube.  I think we can all relate to that!  He has a consulting business to run and therefore needs to be selective about what goes out on the internet.  Hopefully it is not too much to ask that people respect this and not treat this mistake with glee.

[Vlad Jovanovic]

   Sorry Nate...That must have been some Karmic debut...er...debit

matthew ferrell said:

Nate they are just fish.  Add water and food and your good to go.  Well that is until they blow a butthole out.

[Jon Parr]

Poor Nate. Never going to live down that blown-out tilapia. 

Vlad Jovanovic said:

   Sorry Nate...That must have been some Karmic debut...er...debit

matthew ferrell said:

Nate they are just fish.  Add water and food and your good to go.  Well that is until they blow a butthole out.

[RupertofOZ]

Sylvia Bernstein said:

I had an email exchange with Wilson this morning.  The video was taken down at his request.  His understanding when it was shot was that it was not going to be posted on YouTube and given that understanding he said things in a way that he might not have said them if he knew that it was going to go up on YouTube.  I think we can all relate to that!  He has a consulting business to run and therefore needs to be selective about what goes out on the internet.  Hopefully it is not too much to ask that people respect this and not treat this mistake with glee.

 

I think many of us are applauding his honesty Sylvia...

 

I certainly understood that it was posted by "mistake"... and I do see a degree of irony about it all....

 

But I think the video content should be public domain... and if anything... will only serve to raise respect for Wilson..

 

Personally... I think he is bringing a "degree of common sense" to the subject of "commecialisation" of AP... somethnig that as he himself says... should be there... but seems to be often lacking...

[Nate Storey]

I tend to agree.  I appreciate that level of honesty.  Frankly, Dr. Lennard would go to the top of the list for people I would hire to consult on a commercial operation- just because he's honest about the difficulties and problems with commercializing AP (as it stands now).  Hiring someone who will tell you what you want to hear is not at all beneficial.  Hiring someone who shows that he understands the subject - both the positive and negative aspects- now that's worth it.  There's a great deal of optimism out there regarding commercial AP that is not at all grounded in the reality that it is difficult work, requires and advanced knowledge of not just the ecological/biological aspects of the business, but the market and the economic aspects of the business. Dr. Lennard doesn't seem to beat around the bush on the subject, and that's something I can respect a great deal.  There are a lot of rainbow-and-unicorn mentalities out there regarding AP, which is wonderful for fostering a pioneering spirit, and building optimism and pushing innovation in the industry, however, when the rubber meets the road, the honest truth is that it is farming.  Margins are tight, the work is hard, but it's incredibly rewarding.  It's what I want to do for a living- for all of the reasons above.  And I'm not going to risk the future of my family on rainbows and unicorns.  

By taking Dr. Lennard's words to heart, I think the industry can improve on itself and potentially become a very dominant form of commercial hydroponics, but it will take innovation, and innovation is based on recognition of need.  Nedd is based on failures or shortcomings of current solutions.  AP will never go anywhere without innovation, and criticism is an important part of that.  I'm not gleeful that Dr. Lennard had a video posted without his knowledge, and I hope it doesn't negatively impact his business- I sincerely doubt it will.  I do appreciate his candor and and think that what he has said doesn't hurt the prospects for commercial AP, only improve them.  Unless we can overcome the limitations expressed by Dr. Lennard, we're static, and static doesn't cut it.  

[matthew ferrell]

I'm with Nate and Oz.  I speak the same way about aquaponics, the truth is right now commercial ventures are a huge risk, with marginal returns.  This does not mean I don't think what we are doing is amazing.  I think we need to keep pushing to find the efficiencies to become a viable business.

[Sylvia Bernstein]

Totally agree with all of you about Wilson's honesty and perspectives, and that it actually represents him quite well.  His point, however, was that he did not give permission for that video to be put out for the world to see on YouTube and that he is trying to start up a consulting company so he needs to closely manage his personal brand and HE felt that he was caught on camera saying things in a way that he would have said differently had he known that it would be under the public microscope. He wouldn't change the message, just the language and tone.  I'm sure he appreciates all of your support, though.

[RupertofOZ]

I'm sure we all appreciate that Wilson has a right to leverage his knowledge and be compensated for it... and his right to restrict his "public" information...

 

But the question is... should he, or others say things "differently under the public microscope".... and why is there the need to change the "language and the tone"... if the message is valid....

 

The suggestions leaves me with a real uneasiness... that the AP public might be being presented with a "tailored" outlook about aquaponics... particularly about "commercial" aquaponics....

 

If that were the case... then I'm sorry... but a blanket "caveat emptor" statement just wouldn't cut it with me... and would raise real questions as to the respect with which some might be treating the AP public... and potential investors...

 

An unease as to just how fine an "ethical" line some might be taking with regard to "business"... albeit in terms of what appears to be "acceptable" in modern business...

[Converse]

  I really wish I could have gotten this downloaded and viewed before it got pulled from the web...Not to gloat, but to learn.  Wow!  I am sorry this was done without his okay though...I'm sure he would have looked more polished and spoken more eloquently had he known...but personally I would have just liked the information.  As everyone else is saying...honesty in positives and negatives is so needed.

 

- Converse

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

It wasn't a good look for Dr Lennard... Bashing people's systems and praising his own while complaining about how optimistic people are. He probably realized that the negativity is not something that will inspire good will in the future... smart man. Coming from an art education where others bash your creations you come to love those who give you that kind of honesty.

[Sylvia Bernstein]

Come on... seriously, Rupert?  You mean to tell me that you wouldn't word something differently if you were having beers with your mates vs if you knew you were being videotaped for all the world to see?

RupertofOZ said:

But the question is... should he, or others say things "differently under the public microscope".... and why is there the need to change the "language and the tone"... if the message is valid....

 

The suggestions leaves me with a real uneasiness... that the AP public might be being presented with a "tailored" outlook about aquaponics... particularly about "commercial" aquaponics....

 

If that were the case... then I'm sorry... but a blanket "caveat emptor" statement just wouldn't cut it with me... and would raise real questions as to the respect with which some might be treating the AP public... and potential investors...

 

An unease as to just how fine an "ethical" line some might be taking with regard to "business"... albeit in terms of what appears to be "acceptable" in modern business...

[Gabriele Barocci]

hello,

can anyone tell me why Aquaponics is more expensive then hydroponics?