Proj595 Course Project Part 1
Building an Auqaponic Farm:
Construction & Operation
PROJ592 – Project Cost & Schedule Control
Course Project - Part 1
Executive Summary
With a minimal initial investment of $100,000 and a single acre of level ground, a self-sustaining aquaponics based growing operation can be established and become profitably within 6 months. Through continuous year round vegetable and fish production, this operation can conservatively generate $250,000 in annual revenue starting in the very first year. While the initial investment in materials and equipment is steep, the output of this system rapidly accelerates to full potential and costs very little to maintain on an annual basis. The versatility of this system allows for the simultaneous production of a variety of sought after vegetables at reasonable cost and can reproduced in nearly any area of the United States.
Project Description
This project is designed to develop a reproducible and self-sustaining aquaponics system based on $100,000 initial investor input. A functioning model will be created to prove the viability of a self contained and symbiotic relationship that combines hydroponic vegetable production with aquaculture production. Hydroponics is the farming of vegetables using only water and loose fill media instead of soil. Aquaculture is the farming of fish in a controlled and sustainable environment. Putting these two systems together provides a source of nutrient rich water for growing plants and a natural filtration system, rich with oxygen, for growing fish. The combined system will be operated and monitored over a five year period to determine the total cost of production for a variety of leafy green vegetables as well as the price per pound of fish created over the same time period.
The greatest price factor of getting food to local markets is the fuel cost from the production location, through one or more levels of storage and packaging and lastly the trip to each point of sale. The
Construction & Operation
PROJ592 – Project Cost & Schedule Control
Course Project - Part 1
Executive Summary
With a minimal initial investment of $100,000 and a single acre of level ground, a self-sustaining aquaponics based growing operation can be established and become profitably within 6 months. Through continuous year round vegetable and fish production, this operation can conservatively generate $250,000 in annual revenue starting in the very first year. While the initial investment in materials and equipment is steep, the output of this system rapidly accelerates to full potential and costs very little to maintain on an annual basis. The versatility of this system allows for the simultaneous production of a variety of sought after vegetables at reasonable cost and can reproduced in nearly any area of the United States.
Project Description
This project is designed to develop a reproducible and self-sustaining aquaponics system based on $100,000 initial investor input. A functioning model will be created to prove the viability of a self contained and symbiotic relationship that combines hydroponic vegetable production with aquaculture production. Hydroponics is the farming of vegetables using only water and loose fill media instead of soil. Aquaculture is the farming of fish in a controlled and sustainable environment. Putting these two systems together provides a source of nutrient rich water for growing plants and a natural filtration system, rich with oxygen, for growing fish. The combined system will be operated and monitored over a five year period to determine the total cost of production for a variety of leafy green vegetables as well as the price per pound of fish created over the same time period.
The greatest price factor of getting food to local markets is the fuel cost from the production location, through one or more levels of storage and packaging and lastly the trip to each point of sale. The