by Pete Whiting, Grow Bristol
First published in the Fish Farming Technology section of International Aquafeed, November-December 2015
Grow Bristol is a small social enterprise with big plans for farming fish and greens using aquaponics. Set up by myself, with business partner, Dermot O’Reagan, Grow Bristol is transforming a disused space in the centre of the city of Bristol, UK, into a farm for the future. Our aim is to produce great food in the heart of the community where it is eaten, whilst farming in a more sustainable way. We hope to change the way we feed our city, using innovative agricultural methods and by connecting the people of Bristol to their food.
At Grow Bristol, we believe in producing truly local, high quality food, close to the people who eat it. Currently, there is a need to explore further ways to grow more quality food, more sustainably, on less land, with fewer resources. Fisheries and farmland are increasingly coming under pressure. A recent report by the University of Sheffield created widespread speculation that there may be only 100 harvests left in UK soils due to intensive agriculture (we have reached Peak Soil as well as Peak Oil!).
Water scarcity is also becoming a bigger problem globally and the UK is one of the largest importers of virtual water (other nations’ water used during the production of our imports). The food miles and carbon footprint of what we eat is also contributing significantly to climate change. Clearly, farmers need to continue to consider alternative methods of producing and transporting their food. Can one part of the solution be to produce more in the city for growing urban populations?
At Grow Bristol, we initially began farming using a more conventional approach. We started by growing salad leaves in the soil in two large polytunnels, but were disillusioned with the vulnerabilities of the system and lack of suitability to the urban environment. We were producing on average 60kg (or 600 small bags) of mixed leaf salad a week for the local market. However, with a short growing season, a hugely inefficient irrigation system, poor soil and limited effective pest control, we started to consider the need for more resilient solutions. That’s when we turned to commercial urban aquaponics.
Read the full article in International Aquafeed HERE.
First published in the Fish Farming Technology section of International Aquafeed, November-December 2015
Grow Bristol is a small social enterprise with big plans for farming fish and greens using aquaponics. Set up by myself, with business partner, Dermot O’Reagan, Grow Bristol is transforming a disused space in the centre of the city of Bristol, UK, into a farm for the future. Our aim is to produce great food in the heart of the community where it is eaten, whilst farming in a more sustainable way. We hope to change the way we feed our city, using innovative agricultural methods and by connecting the people of Bristol to their food.
At Grow Bristol, we believe in producing truly local, high quality food, close to the people who eat it. Currently, there is a need to explore further ways to grow more quality food, more sustainably, on less land, with fewer resources. Fisheries and farmland are increasingly coming under pressure. A recent report by the University of Sheffield created widespread speculation that there may be only 100 harvests left in UK soils due to intensive agriculture (we have reached Peak Soil as well as Peak Oil!).
Water scarcity is also becoming a bigger problem globally and the UK is one of the largest importers of virtual water (other nations’ water used during the production of our imports). The food miles and carbon footprint of what we eat is also contributing significantly to climate change. Clearly, farmers need to continue to consider alternative methods of producing and transporting their food. Can one part of the solution be to produce more in the city for growing urban populations?
At Grow Bristol, we initially began farming using a more conventional approach. We started by growing salad leaves in the soil in two large polytunnels, but were disillusioned with the vulnerabilities of the system and lack of suitability to the urban environment. We were producing on average 60kg (or 600 small bags) of mixed leaf salad a week for the local market. However, with a short growing season, a hugely inefficient irrigation system, poor soil and limited effective pest control, we started to consider the need for more resilient solutions. That’s when we turned to commercial urban aquaponics.
Read the full article in International Aquafeed HERE.
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