The first report of Micro Greens in Aquaponics was published in 2021 by Dr. Patrick J. O’Rourke, an Extension Senior Specialist in the New Zealand Institute of Food Research. In this report, Dr. O’Rourke presented a summary of the benefits and uses of microgreens for aquaponics and the commercial producers of such vegetables. He also presented some recommendations regarding how to better promote the growth of micro greens in aquaponics. Following are key takeaways from the report. (These points are not an endorsement of microgreens by any means!) The primary focus of this article is on the opportunities for training and professional development as related to planting microgreens in aquaponics systems.
This report was focused on two issues related to microgreens in aquaponics: (a) how to best promote the growth of these vegetables in an aquaponics system and (b) how to select the right microgreens for your growing environment. It was concluded that the highest nutrient concentration level of microgreens can be achieved by growing them from cuttings taken from young seedlings. It was also recommended that young seedlings are planted on a raised bed with adequate support, including good drainage. After crop growth has finished, the seedlings should be divided approximately one inch below the surface to allow for complete root penetration. It was also suggested that planting microgreens should be done in spring, but not until after crop production has been completed; however, they will provide more nutrition over the winter season.
This report was highly recommended for two reasons. First, it included a list of recommendations for maximizing the benefits of microgreens and, second, it presented information and photos of common seedling plants grown in aquaponics. It was noted that planting these plants in a raised bed with a deep layer of gravel and a light covering will provide excellent growing conditions, but they will not be as effective at providing microgreen coverage as plants planted in the same growing medium without any extra cover. In addition to the gravel bed and the light covering, however, the plant roots need to have some access to water and nutrients. With this being said, however, most experts found that the best growing conditions can be obtained by planting the seeds in a growing medium with sufficient support and water and nutrients.
Many experts and researchers believe that there is no way to completely replicate the conditions necessary for successful aquaponic systems without first understanding and addressing everything from how the natural fish market functions to the requirements for optimal growing conditions. As such, no one was able to provide specific answers to the question “How does Micro Greens in Aquaponics fit into my future business plans?” However, several sources did report that there are a number of opportunities for training and professional development associated with the project. Among those opportunities include everything from the biology of fish and how the fish market influences their food habits and how that market impacts the production and distribution of food in the market. Additionally, there are opportunities for training in the management of water cycles and in developing recipes that make use of sustainable produce.
The success of the Micro Greens in Aquaponics story was achieved primarily through the efforts of the commercial production facility where the fish and the green product were manufactured. According to several sources, this facility had a mixed group of employees including experienced extension agents who specialized in the management of fish breeding and warehousing facilities and a number of individuals with very minimal experience in the management of fish or even plants. While it is possible that this is a very mixed group, it is also very likely that very little direct training or professional development was done by any of these extension agents. Despite the mixed nature of the workforce, several business leaders saw potential in the business opportunity presented by Micro Greens and held onto the franchise until it closed.
One of the most significant impediments to the growth of Micro Greens in Aquaponics relates to the individuals who were responsible for marketing and introducing the product to the market. While it is very likely that some of the marketing was done by employees of the commercial producers, it is also likely that much of the sales came from independent agents and the sale of marketing materials. It is very likely that nothing was said or marketed about the negative impacts of raising livestock on the environment as well as on the quality and cost of the final product. It is also possible that the majority of sales were by people who had never before considered raising livestock and that they were completely unaware of the benefits to their families and to the planet that a fish based fertilizer might provide. Because this group was not a “target audience” and because most of its members were not involved with the commercial farming industry, this created an opening for some of the more enterprising marketing oriented representatives to come into play.
This is the primary reason that many believe that the business development opportunities in Micro Greens were missed when the business was first launched. The people who were responsible for promoting the product did not have the necessary business development opportunities to take their ideas to the next level. For this same reason, the majority of the people who tried the product did not experience the levels of success they had hoped for. If these business development opportunities had been available from the beginning, then it is quite likely that the sales would have been much higher, the interest in the product would have been greater, and the demand would have been greater.
Fortunately, business development opportunities are always present. By taking the time to research the opportunities that exist in a Micro Greens business you can gain the necessary knowledge necessary to see if the product would be something that would be of benefit to your company, your customers, and your bottom line. If you make the mistake of waiting until you have a product before investing in it, then you will be waiting a very long time before you can see any type of results. As the owner and operator of a company you need to be ready to invest your time, money, and energy into every aspect of your business. The time to determine whether or not there are growth opportunities in Micro Greens is before you ever even purchase the product.