DISCLAIMER this is a backside look at two farming industries we rely on.
Blessings and Love!! For anyone who has even a fleeting interest in aquaponics will at some point ask, what is the difference growing in Soil/Traditional Agriculture verses growing in an Aquaponics system be it small or commercial scale? Are Bigger Purpose Built Economical and Sustainable Farms actually better for the environment and for us? I thought I would discuss some of the seldom talked about areas of these vastly different ways of growing food. Both Commercially here in Perth and Worldwide.
SOIL GROWN (or traditionalyl grown vegetables) are obviously a very successful and easily accessible way to garden and grow your own food, it can be relatively inexpensive in comparison to an Aquaponics set up and of course its capable at a basic level for most people and knowledge is almost always handed down from Elders. Vegetables grown in Soil be it ORGANIC or VEGANIC rely on the various nutrients in the soil for plant growth and success, along with the Soil’s Microherd (Microbiology) including Bacteria and Fingi. Amendments and Fertilizers are relatively inexpensive and can be made right in your own garden. Soil growing can be done on small and large scale.
AQUAPONICS GROWN on the other hand is the combination of Hydroponic plant growth and Aquaculture. The plant growth takes place with no soil, but rather an Inert Media usually made of Expanded Clay. The plants rely on the production of fish waste which is cycled through the grow beds for their nutrients (Macro/Micro/Major etc), and in return they filter the water for its return to the fish tank to start again via NITRIFYING and DENITRIFYING bacteria. The set up and maintenance, production cost and energy efficacy is costly as is the information access via subscription and courses to learn to grow. Aquaponics can be done on small and large scale.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SOIL FARMS can be somewhat seen as a good, safe and healing alternative than non-soil farming, with a concentration back on Organic and Veganic Soil Growing Methods, but it is also worth pointing out that a lot of Organic Certified farmers do not always use these methods for Commercial Production and Sustained Production Quality on commercial farms. Soil Tilling and other noxious methods for Production and Cultivation are sometimes employed, with pressure from Government, purchaser and supplier seeking high Return of Investment and Profit over Soil Health and Earth Care. Even the overuse of Organic/Livestock manures and fertilizers can have a massively negative impact with Nitrogen Dioxide Release similar to Methane but potentially worse long term as it is often described and considered less harmful by governing bodies. Synthetic fertilizers marketed as Organic alternates, safe and eco friendly are often not the case and prolonged usage, misuse and leaching has a severe negative drawback.
Two Part explanations as I can see it Cost of Production and Return on Investment/Profits.
For us home gardeners here in Perth, it’s very easy and affordable to grow Organic. We buy a few bags or trailer load of amendments, and we are off and growing again. At some points, it may be expensive for some particular amendments, but since it’s a small area, a premium price is easily accepted. But try that over a 100-acre plus Broadacre Farm and the Cost and Return change dramatically. I have asked many farmers over the years why they don’t go or stay Organic/Veganic, Regenerative and Sustainable? And sadly for some, it’s just not a viable way for them to make money. Pressures and threats of loss of land and income/family security often makes that choice for them, or should I dare say for some, the money industry and investors are used to do so. It would be good to see these farmers and us as purchasers, to push back on the destructive farming and industry practices, the worsening intense Biospheric pressure and instead Invest Back in their Farming Land and Biology and future of this beautiful Planet of ours.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF AQUAPONIC FARMS is well documented, it takes up less space to grow significant amounts of vegetables and fish sometimes reaching over 2-5X the same amount of veg grown per m2 as in Soil Grown. It does not utilise as much of the earths soil consistently compared to Soil Growing, but, on the other hand, building and construction of these farms can be an environmental disaster for the surrounding life and waterways. Some poorly built (in terms of environmental awareness and security) gigantic farms of Aquaponics covering over thousands of square meters, will devastate land, water, and life and its foundation and surface area footprint covers the soil just as one instance. Salt and Petroleum Based Fertilizers and Pesticides/Herbicides are often overused and when the time is up, just like Mining, leave the degraded land after, minimising life and slowing the returning of life. What once was Arable is now Non-Arable. Growing can take place almost anywhere inside or outside. The Electricity and Water needed is quite expensive, but with new technology coming forward, things are changing. For the better or worse? The tech side of this industry is seen as a blessing as the introductory costs of setting up electricity supply and storage are coming down for farmers with “Sustainable Energy Systems” which conveniently do not stay low as time moves forward.
Another important issue which is again not often discussed widely, is the enormously destructive yet lucrative financial incentives to create said technology. This cultivation of destructive laws and practices, now an industry itself should not stop you from making conscious choices and creating your own beautiful gardening practices and ways forward. In fact the refusal to engage with such practices is rebellion enough and will cause changes for the better eventually. Fo their power lies in money. No money no power.
Both Soil and Alternative Farming Tech development is very costly. Just as much as there are some meanies out there, there are also some new ventures with some very elaborate and interesting systems set up around the world showcasing sustainable agriculture.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? Backyard Gardens, commUNITY Gardens, Collective Security, Veganic Soil Growing, Natural Farming, Biospherically Conscious Choice Making, Overstanding Imperfect Fruit and Veg grown with love of the Earth and Creation, is perfect, Not letting Cheap and Economic Foods Fool You, Avoiding Processed Foods, Saying No to BIG FARMA by Buying Locally Grown Conscious Foods, Protest with Your Money, Grow LOVE, Grow LIFE, Look to The Ancient Ways, Lessen Your Wants, Solidify Your Needs, Become Aware of Wastefulness, Elevate your Awareness of Mindfulness, Come in Togetherness, Reconnect and Regenerate your Livity with Oneness.
We can get away from massive farms we just have to work together and decide we would rather have a healed healthy commUNITY and Earth over a cheap access to cheap foods in order to save money. In the end it will cost us ALL if we don’t. If we each had a small plot in our own yards or allotment’s, commUNITY Gardens and the likes, then not just land, flora and fauna are protected, but a whole heap of fossil fuels and food miles/km’s, energy input and expenditures, waste products, the harm to flora and fauna etc are kept from mashing up the Biosphere and Terrestrial/Subterranean life. It might be less profits for companies, investors, industry, governments, banks etc, but, it WILL PAY DIVIDENDS in which we ALL CAN AND WILL SHARE.
Ras Mark SUBURBAN FARMER.