A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Food Safety primary focus for Aquaponics Association - Looking for ideas for 2014 Conference

Just wanted to pass along that the two-year-old Aquaponics Association held elections again this September. The new executive board is:

Chair: Meg Stout (me, Virginia)

Vice Chair: Adam Cohen of Green Phoenix Farms (Texas)

Secretary: Astrid Hartleb of Greenview Aquaponics (Florida)

Treasurer: Rob Torcellini of Bigelow Brooks Farm (Connecticut)

Our primary focus is proving that food grown in aquaponic systems is safe, to provide the data that will allow GLOBAL G.A.P. and GFSI to certify aquaponic food as safe. This was a major impetus for Gina Cavaliero and Sylvia Bernstein when they originally founded the Aquaponics Association two years ago.

Proving aquaponics is safe would allow farms to sell to all retailers (most large retailers currently require GLOBAL G.A.P. or GFSI certification). Our current guesstimate is this initial survey will cost $200,000-$500,000 USD, so looking to do some major fundraising. This should not be something that aquaponic farmers/growers will pay for out of their personal pockets. Aside from being too much for our small industry, it would be suspect if not performed by independent researchers. The awesome thing is preliminary research indicates we should be able to demonstrate safe food production easily as long as growers adhere to basic good handling practices and good agricultural practices.

A short list of our strategic goals for 2014 are:

• Aquaponic Food Safety Certification

• Educate consumers regarding aquaponics

• Strengthen message about environmental benefits of aquaponics

• Engage members and prospective members in vibrant dialogue

We're also looking for proposals for the 2014 conference location and concept. Our past conferences have been in Florida, Colorado, and Arizona in the US. Since the vast majority of our current membership is in the US, we're probably going to stay there for the near-term future. To that end, we'll be putting out a survey to inform those interesting in proposing to hold the conference in their region what the aquaponics community wants to see/do/experience. I'll also post information on how to submit a proposal here in this thread soon.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Veidel on September 25, 2013 at 8:27pm

Chicago! Please come to Chicago!!! There are a few cool aquaponics places around here that have tour potential. Although, I haven't really visited them personally...There's a good focus on indoor growing, 'cause it gets a tad cold down here.

http://www.plantchicago.com/farms/plantaquaponics/

http://www.csu.edu/cas/bioandprehealth/aquaponics.htm

http://skyygreens.com/

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Permalink Reply by Shawn Dietzer on October 20, 2013 at 10:40pm

Yea Chicago! I live in Indiana so that would work out perfect for me.

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Permalink Reply by Meg Stout on October 21, 2013 at 5:30am

The survey is at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HCVNVMJ

At the moment it seems California (Southwest) is leading, with Texas (South Central) pulling in a close second. Seattle/Portland (Northwest) and Chicago/Milwaukee (North Central) are in third and fourth place.

However the survey doesn't determine where the event will be held. We are looking for proposals by 15 November, and we'll ask folks to vote on those. The proposals will provide dates, locations, conference concept, and target registration fees, and the vote will run 22 Nov to 8 Dec.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Veidel on October 21, 2013 at 5:47am

Meg, California is pretty far west for people out east to travel. If you have to choose between the two, I'd recommend Texas because it's a little more central. Although I've always wanted to visit California :) My personal opinion, anyway.

Meg Stout said:

The survey is at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HCVNVMJ

At the moment it seems California (Southwest) is leading, with Texas (South Central) pulling in a close second. Seattle/Portland (Northwest) and Chicago/Milwaukee (North Central) are in third and fourth place.

However the survey doesn't determine where the event will be held. We are looking for proposals by 15 November, and we'll ask folks to vote on those. The proposals will provide dates, locations, conference concept, and target registration fees, and the vote will run 22 Nov to 8 Dec.

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Permalink Reply by Meg Stout on October 21, 2013 at 5:36pm

I'm not choosing - everyone who votes will choose.

First folks will "vote" by whether or not they even submit a bid.

Second, folks will vote between the submitted bids.

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Permalink Reply by Robert J on October 21, 2013 at 5:48pm

meg, I haven't seen a voter forum... But My choices would be Virginia first (Lol, i know we're in the minority) and Chicago second, because its middle of the road. Just my 2 cents.