Tag: Aquaponics Association

Aquaponic Growers Eligible for Coronavirus Assistance

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Multiple USDA representatives assured the Aquaponics Association that aquaponics operations producing qualified crops are eligible for financial support through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The Deadline to apply is August 28, 2020. Growers are also eligible for Small Business Administration Programs. By Thomas Wheet and Brian Filipowich, originally published by the Aquaponics Association The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively […]

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USDA Voluntary G.A.P. Program

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By Tawnya Sawyer The USDA recently recognized aquaponics under their voluntary Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program through the Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) division. This program is in its pilot phase for audits and certification of selected aquaponics farms through the end of 2020. Having a set of guidelines for aquaponics helps to better align with the specifics […]

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USDA Launches Innovative Ag Office – Announces $3M Grants

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By Thomas Wheet and Brian Filipowich The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill charged the USDA with creating the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (“Urban Ag Office”). The Farm Bill noted that urban agriculture can “contribute to the revitalization of abandoned or underutilized urban land, [bring] social and economic benefits to urban communities, and [create] […]

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Food Safety and E. coli in Aquaponic and Hydroponic Systems

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This document is The Aquaponics Association’s response to a recent publication on E. coli in Aquaponic and Hydroponic systems. By Tawnya Sawyer; Nick Savidov, PhD; George Pate; and Marc Laberge Overview of the Study On April 6, 2020, Purdue Agriculture News published a story about a study related to the contamination risk of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in Aquaponic and […]

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Congress funds USDA Urban Ag Office

Congress Funds Office of Urban & Innovative Agriculture

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By Brian Filipowich Originally posted by the Aquaponics Association The new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production created by the 2018 Farm Bill had been sitting in limbo for the past year. The USDA declined to establish it without dedicated funding from Congress. On December 20, 2019, the President signed into law H.R. 1865, The […]

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2019 Aquaponics Food Safety Statement

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Originally published at https://aquaponicsassociation.org/2019-aquaponics-food-safety-statement/ The Aquaponics Association presents the 2019 Aquaponics Food Safety Statement, signed by over 130 organizations, including 98 from the U.S. This statement explains the food safety credentials of produce grown in aquaponic systems. PDF version: 2019 Aquaponics Food Safety Statement December 9, 2019Aquaponics Food Safety Statement Established Science Confirms Aquaponic Fish and Produce […]

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TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Support USDA Urban / Innovative Ag Office

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From the Aquaponics Association By the end of this week (Friday, Nov 15) please call or email your two senators and one representative and ask them to Support the new USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. In the next week or two, Congress will decide whether or not to fund the USDA’s new Office […]

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The Aquaponics Association invites you to sign on to Food Safety Statement

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2019 Aquaponics Food Safety Statement Sign-on Dear Aquaponics Growers, At the Putting Out Fruits conference last month, we all agreed that it was important for our community to make a positive statement asserting the food safety status of aquaponics. Part of the motivation was that a major food safety certifier, Canada GAP, recently announced it […]

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The Aquaponics Association 2019 presents program for the September Putting Out Fruits Conference

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The Aquaponics Association 2019 Board of Governors is proud to present the tentative program for the September 20-22 Putting Out Fruits Conference: https://aquaponicsassociation.org/conference-program/ The conference runs for three days and features: the top aquaponics experts from around the world; tours of commercial aquaponics operations; a vendor showroom; interactive discussions and social events for aquaponics growers […]

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Bad Certification News from Canada

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A negative situation is brewing in Canada that could spread across borders and set back aquaponics’ progress worldwide. CanadaGAP, a government-recognized food safety certification program, stated that it will withdraw CanadaGAP certification for Aquaponic production effective March 31, 2020. Unfortunately, the decision appears to be based on faulty and/or incomplete information: “New information has come […]

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Farm Bill Creates Office for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

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The 2018 Farm Bill (H.R.2) passed both the House and Senate and will be signed into law by the President imminently. The Bill creates the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production which should boost aquaponics, hydroponics, and other sustainable growing methods. The Bill establishes the Office “to encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other emerging […]

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Aquaponics Association features site tours as part of their 2018 conference

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The Aquaponics Association is gearing up for their Putting Up Shoots 2018 Conference in Connecticut. This conference will feature tours of four different sites in various parts of the state. Attendees will be able to see aquaponics from different angles, such as commercial, research, community, food safety, and STEM education. The tours will include sessions […]

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Aquaponics Association publishes letter and 300 signatures to Congress

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Read the Aquaponics 2018 Farm Bill Letter Here The Aquaponics Association today published a letter asking Congress to support aquaponics and other sustainable growing methods in the 2018 Farm Bill. The Senate draft of the Farm Bill includes provisions that benefit aquaponic growers that are not included in the House version. (Read the Aquaponics Senate Farm Bill […]

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Senate Farm Bill Includes Provisions for Aquaponics and Hydroponics

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Originally published by the Aquaponics Association Read what the Senate’s Farm Bill includes for Aquaponics, click here: Senate Farm Bill Fact Sheet The U.S. Senate on July 5 passed a draft of the 2018 Farm Bill that includes provisions specifically relating to aquaponics, hydroponics, and other sustainable growing methods. (Maybe our 200+ signature sign-on letter had an effect!) The Senate’s […]

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