It's not new. Ancient cultures all over the world have used aquaponic systems to produce foods year round, but it is new to farmers who are used to more traditional plowing in the dirt methods.
As equally important as the method itself is the reason Vian resident Richard Tyler will be breaking ground Saturday on new 8,000 square feet aquaponic facility. The facility, known as NOAH (Native Oklahoma Aquaponic Harvest) center will operate a patented commercial aquaponic system that produces high quality fish and vegetables 365 days a year, in a bio-secure, controlled environment greenhouse.
NOAH will use all natural tilapia to produce the ammonia that fertilizes the vegetables. The fish, like the vegetables are part of the harvest from the system.
Tyler makes it clear there is a huge difference in aquaponic and hydroponic growing systems. “Aquaponic systems are fully self contained units that support themselves. There are no chemicals at all used. Aquaponics uses fish to provide a natural fertilizer in the water. The plants filter the water. There is no fishy smell and the water never has to be changed,” Tyler said.