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       #Post#: 3588--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: August 10, 2015, 2:01 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       NASA Astronauts Grow Vegetables in Space for First Time
       Lorraine Chow | August 10, 2015 12:56 pm
       Goodbye freeze-dried space food. NASA’s astronauts aboard the
       International Space Station are taking a giant leap with its
       menu: fresh-grown vegetables.
       Expedition 44 crew members, including astronaut Scott Kelly
       who’s on a special year-long mission in space, will be dining on
       a crop of “Outredgeous” red romaine lettuce from the Veggie
       plant growth system that’s sitting on the station itself.
       Called the Veg-01, the experiment aims to “study the in-orbit
       function and performance of the plant growth facility and its
       rooting ‘pillows,’ which contain the seeds,” according to a NASA
       press release.
       The Veggie unit, which is expandable and collapsible, contains a
       light bank that features a flat panel red, blue and green LEDs
       for plant growth and crew observation (which explains why the
       plants are glowing pink in some photos). Half of the harvest,
       which was plucked 33 days after it was initially planted, will
       be eaten. The other half will be packaged and frozen on the
       station until it can be sent to Earth for analysis.
  HTML http://ecowatch.com/2015/08/10/grow-vegetables-space/
       Agelbert Comment: The importance of this is not that they can
       travel to mars or establish space colonies. What is REALLY
       important is that LED photon frequencies have been fine tuned
       (for over 5 years now) so they can grow plants indoors.
       That means that with a Renewable Energy source like PV, CSP,
       wind, tide, etc. plus efficient battery storage, we can DOUBLE
       (or more) our plant food production by growing underground or in
       multistory farms.   [img width=25
       height=30]
  HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-080515182559.png[/img]
       These farms will be able to grow plants all year and, in some
       cases, 24 hours a day. They will have climate control to deal
       with our increasingly hostile climate due to global warming
       visiting us from the stupidity of burning fossil fuels. As the
       video (
  HTML https://youtu.be/c1Gxn_nfgWA)
       points out at the end, hot
       sandy deserts can now grow plants underground in order to
       eventually avoid the need to import vegetables.
  HTML http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-object-041.gif
       Also, tuned LEDs will enable humans to get vitamin D in low to
       no sunlight conditions like winter near the poles.   [img
       width=60
       height=50]
  HTML http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/yayayoy/yayayoy1106/yayayoy110600019/9735563-smiling-sun-showing-thumb-up.jpg[/img]<br
       />
       Google "LED tuned for plant growth" for more information.  8)
       [quote]
       "Technical knowledge of Carrying Capacity will not save us; only
       a massive increase in Caring Capacity will."  -- A. G.
       Gelbert[/quote]
       #Post#: 3818--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: September 18, 2015, 1:09 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=U5G40qCDv6A[/center]
       [center]Biodynamics Farmiing[/center]
       [quote][size=12pt]
       The first person in the modern era to speak out for "organic"
       agriculture was Rudolph Steiner.
       But he went a lot further than just saying no chemicals.
       Steiner had deep respect for the soil, plants, nature and the
       accumulated wisdom of ancient people.
       These are extended interviews taken from the film "The
       Challenge of Rudolf Steiner" - [/size][/quote]
  HTML http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/environment/a-different-way-to-grow-food.html#sthash.R1INe1kz.dpuf
       #Post#: 3840--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: September 19, 2015, 12:28 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CCRFSAxGeJs
       New Farms Of The City
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/170fs799081.gif<br
       />
  HTML http://dl6.glitter-graphics.net/pub/2752/2752256x4e962185l.gif
       
       Bryant Terry, the eco chef, food justice activist and author
       speaks about the importance of a welcome trend: growing food in
       the urban environment.
       "I've seen amazing examples where people have taken their own
       front yards and backyards and created these edible landscapes in
       which they are growing these varieties of fruits and vegetables,
       fresh herbs and even raising chickens in urban environments...a
       farm can be as close as the library down the street and not 100
       miles away from us."
       Imagine all the vacant lots in all of our cities that can be
       full of organic produce that need not be trucked in...
       --Bibi Farber
       This video was produced by Nourishlife.org, a national
       educational initiative designed to open a meaningful
       conversation about food and sustainability.
       - See more at:
  HTML http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/urban-initiatives/urban-farms.html#sthash.5ivInTNv.dpuf
       #Post#: 3854--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: September 20, 2015, 2:40 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       SustainableBusiness.com Newswire
       09/20/2015 10:19 AM ET
       [center][img width=640
       height=380]
  HTML https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/530863841_640.jpg[/img][/center]
       [center]Agratech Farms - Water Conservation With Hydroponic
       Farming
       [/center]
       The world at large is running low in essential resources and
       since water is one of them, saving it is a primary issue that
       has become quite a challenge nowadays.
       September 4th, 2015 - As one of the largest commercial
       hydroponic operators, Agratech Farms aims to become the largest
       in the world.
       Recently it has begun reviewing ways to conserve water through
       hydroponic farming. This method of farming is purely dependent
       on water laded with nutrients and relative traditional farming
       methods and it already consumes 90% less water.
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/19.gif
       Agratech intends to
       further reduce the consumption of water in its hydroponic
       farming facilities.
       The world at large is running low in essential resources; with
       water being one of them, saving it has become a challenge
       globally. In order to contribute to this cause, Agratech Farms
       constantly analyzes its existing technologies to find a way to
       better manage the consumption of water. Today 70% of the world's
       water is used in traditional agriculture.
       The fundamental use of water in growing plants hydroponically,
       also uses coconut shell fibers and Styrofoam to hold the plants
       at the correct angle. Under which, the roots float in the water
       that quenches both their thirst and provides the essential
       nutrients.
       A spokesperson from Agratech says, "If managed more efficiently,
       we can actually conserve 90% water in hydroponics farming. We
       intend to play our part in the conservation of water, as that is
       the essence of this method of farming. Not to mention Agratech's
       underlying goal is to contribute in every way we can to the
       environment."
       "We also grow high-quality hydroponic produce 'Daily Fresh'.
       Using the latest water saving and hydroponic techniques we have
       developed sustainable hydroponic farms that promote our "green"
       agriculture initiative."
       With Agratech's vision to develop and educate the next
       generation with relevant hydroponic farming and agricultural
       knowledge, Head Quartered in Dubai UAE; Agratech have also
       introduced hydroponic investments for private, commercial and
       industry buyers and also established firm bases of operation in
       Hong Kong, the Capital of Romania, Madrid in Spain, and now
       Lisbon in Portugal.
       The spokesperson continued, [quote]"Many of the mentioned
       countries lack arable land and climactic requirements needed for
       the mass production of food. Agratech's Vision is to provide
       self sufficiency in agriculture to these regions all the while
       obtaining an even higher conservation rate of water." [/quote]
       Our technology allows us to grow 365 days a year in any climate
       using state of the art technology that regulates the climate
       inside our closed High Tech greenhouse, a series of sensors,
       coolers and heaters allows uniformed production all year round.
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/nocomment.gif
       [I]About Agratech
       Agratech aims to be one of the largest operators of hydroponic
       farming facilities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
       and Europe from their strategic base in the United Arab
       Emirates.
       It strives to improve the world's food security imbalances with
       technologically advanced farming techniques coupled with clean
       and ethical farming practices that produce fresh, healthy fruit
       and vegetables.
       Equipped with the vision to educate, teach and develop the next
       generation throughout the globe with relevant farming and
       agricultural knowledge, they also continue their local-to-local
       philosophy to ensure job creation and economic safety throughout
       the region.
       Dedicated to balance being a successful business as well as a
       socially responsible one, they aim to construct over 100
       hectares of hydroponic farm land by 2020, but also to donate
       produce to the United Nations and World Health Organization.
       [/I]
       For more information please contact:
       Bogdan Ureche Development Manager
       Agratech Farms
       +97143132831
       media@agratechfarms.com
  HTML http://agratechfarms.com/
  HTML http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.viewpressrelease/id/404
       Agelbert NOTE: Why do I think this really will help  (i. e. a
       small portion of) humanity in  a massively polluted, CO2 warmed
       world on a N.T.H.E. trajectory?  ???
       Because of THIS:
       [quote]"Increasing CO2 levels would only be beneficial inside of
       highly controlled, enclosed spaces like greenhouses." -- Doug
       Bostrom[/quote]
  HTML http://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/climate-change/global-warming-is-with-us/msg3825/#msg3825
       [center][img width=640
       height=360]
  HTML https://media.licdn.com/media/p/6/005/084/300/3895fd4.png[/img][/center]
       [center][img width=640
       height=360]
  HTML http://www.agratech.com/cms/upload/menu/gallery/14/Continental_TagawaWestCoastGrowers4.JPG[/img][/center]
       [center][img width=640
       height=380]
  HTML https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b1/ca/e3/b1cae3a5b6096035e56d4ac455269956.jpg[/img][/center]
       [center]Greenhouses on the North Slope. Due to the increased CO2
       concentration and greening towards the poles, these technofixes
       (for the privileged few) will help deep pocketed Alaskans hold
       out in a world of multiple species extinctions. Who knows? They
       MIGHT even avoid N.T.H.E.! [/center]
       See below: Future Success Story of Remnant, though somewhat
       brain damaged from pollution caused DNA degradation, Homo saps
       in Alaska:
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/19.gif
       [center][img width=640
       height=420]
  HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-200915151613.png[/img][/center]
       #Post#: 3957--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: October 4, 2015, 9:34 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
       London's first underground farm opens in WW2 air raid shelter
       [/center]
       [center]
  HTML http://www.haleakalasolar.com/images/index-infobox2.jpg[/center]
       Pea shoots, radishes, mustard, coriander, celery, parsley and
       rocket are all being grown about 100 feet down under London
       SUSTAINABLY  [img width=100
       height=120]
  HTML http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130526134221/plantsvszombies/images/8/84/Sunflower-HQ.png[/img]<br
       />
       [center][img width=640
       height=400]
  HTML http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03358/roux1_3358269b.jpg[/img][/center]
       [center]Michel Roux Jr in the underground farm Photo: Paul
       Grover[/center]
       By Sarah Knapton, Science Editor
       4:07PM BST 29 Jun 2015
       London’s first underground farm has begun growing herbs in a
       disused Second World War bunker.
       Growing Underground, the capital’s only subterranean farm, will
       start trading to restaurateurs in Covent Garden within weeks.
       The farm, in old World War II tunnels beneath the Northern Line
       at Clapham, is the brainchild of West Country entrepreneurs
       Richard Ballard and Steven Dring, in partnership with Michel
       Roux Jr, the Michelin-starred chef.
       The first phase of the farm, which includes a sophisticated
       lighting and irrigation system, is in the final stages of
       preparation for commercial supply.
       Phase one crops include pea shoots, several varieties of radish,
       mustard, coriander, Red Amaranth, celery, parsley and rocket.
       “Our first shoots will be delivered to the surface in the next
       few weeks”, said co-founder Richard Ballard. “After eighteen
       months of research, development, growing trials – and
       tribulations – we’re about to start supplying into the market.”
       [center][img width=640
       height=400]
  HTML http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03358/Roux2_3358271b.jpg[/img][/center]
       Michel Roux Jr added: “I’m looking forward to creating my first
       dish using produce from the world’s first underground urban
       farm, less than two miles as the crow flies from the heart of
       London.
       “It’s great to be involved in this ambitious project, for which
       we have equally ambitious growth plans.
       “Above all, it’s fantastic to be able to source produce that is
       so fresh in the heart of Britain’s largest city.”
       • Travel Underground to the farm VIDEO: You’ll have to dig deep
       to discover what’s growing down on this farm
  HTML http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/10607597/Youll-have-to-dig-deep-to-discover-whats-growing-down-on-this-farm.html<br
       />
       •  Growing Underground: London's subterranean farm
  HTML http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10607635/Growing-Underground-Londons-subterranean-farm.html
       The crops are grown in a sealed clean-room environment with a
       specially designed ventilation system, advanced lighting and a
       sophisticated irrigation that enables the farm to produce crops
       at very low energy.
       The farm’s mission is to deliver fresh produce with zero effect
       on the environment and all energy is sourced from green
       suppliers.
       [center][img width=640
       height=400]
  HTML http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03358/roux4_3358276b.jpg[/img][/center]
       Growing Underground’s first commercial client will be County
       Supplies London, supplying restaurants via Covent Garden market.
       The tunnels were used during World War II as a bomb shelter for
       London residents and designed to accommodate 8,000 people
       sheltering during air raids.
       The Mayor of London, who supported the original idea for the
       farm through his London Leaders business start-up programme,
       also welcomed the launch.
       The Mayor Boris Johnson said: “This is a fine example of the
       dynamic startups that are helping London lead the world in green
       business innovation. I want even more entrepreneurs to help
       create these brilliant concepts that are delivering thousands of
       jobs and boosting London's green economy to almost £30 billion a
       year. I wish Growing Underground every success.”
       [center][img width=640
       height=400]
  HTML http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/06/29/18/2A1646F900000578-0-image-a-7_1435598367227.jpg[/img][/center]
  HTML http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/farming/11706406/Londons-first-underground-farm-opens-in-WW2-air-raid-shelter.html
       #Post#: 3999--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: October 15, 2015, 12:48 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Tk8eP9--O0Y[/center]
       [center][color=green]Organic Pest Control[/color][/center]
       [center]
       Great tips!
  HTML http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-object-041.gifhttp://dl6.glitter-graphics.net/pub/2752/2752256x4e962185l.gif<br
       />
       [/center]
       #Post#: 4025--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: October 20, 2015, 5:52 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
  HTML https://youtu.be/kRlzRIOcrcU[/center]
       Look Ma! No fossil fuel based chemical fertilizers, pesticides
       or plowing and harversting machinery.
       LOOK Ma! No nitrogen run off and no contribution to dead zones
       in the ocean!
       LOOK MA! No fossil fuel powered vehicles transporting veggies a
       thousand miles or more from farm to buyer!
  HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-200714183515.bmp
       
       [center]
       Great article at link with Aquaponics and Nitrogen Cycle
       graphics at link: [/center]
       [center][img width=75
       height=50]
  HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-060914180936.jpeg[/img][/center]
       [center]
       Inside the Nation’s Largest Organic Vertical Farm
  HTML http://ecowatch.com/2015/10/19/nations-largest-vertical-farm/[/center]
       #Post#: 4080--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: November 2, 2015, 10:37 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
  HTML https://youtu.be/DOwoRjiecmo[/center]
       [center]Avoid Fertilizers, Pesticides and Lawn Mowers
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/128fs318181.gif
       [/center]
       One concept of permaculture is to maximize the natural symbiosis
       of living and growing things so as to make use of what nature
       has already provided to get the job done.
       A chicken tractor
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/19.gif
       is a
       portable cage that lets your chickens help you in 3 ways:
       1. They weed your grass, producing eggs high in Omega 3
       2. They fertilize your soil
       3. They eat insects
       Put 'em in there and they get to work. After a while, roll it to
       the next location.
       Avoid fertilizers, pesticides and lawn mowers all at once! [img
       width=100
       height=60]
  HTML http://cliparts.co/cliparts/Big/Egq/BigEgqBMT.png[/img]
       --Bibi Farber
       This video was produced by WD4 LSW
  HTML http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/growing-food/chicken-tractor.html#sthash.N9Rvrxme.dpuf
       #Post#: 4151--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: December 2, 2015, 2:35 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]Solar Powered ‘Farm from a Box’: Everything You Need to
       Run an Off-Grid Farm
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/balloons.gif[/center]
       Lorraine Chow | December 2, 2015 9:26 am
       Shipping containers already make great micro-homes, but one
       California-based company is using shipping containers to create
       micro-farms. Farm from a Box is a complete, small-scale farming
       toolkit that includes everything you might need to produce your
       own food.
       Each box comes in 10-, 20- and 40-foot units and is
       pre-installed with a photovoltaic system comprising of 10
       high-efficiency solar modules, off-grid inverters, a transformer
       and distribution box and deep-cycle batteries for energy
       storage. The array is backed up by a 3,000-watt generator.
       [center][img
       width=640]
  HTML http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Farm-from-a-Box.jpg[/img][/center]
       Farm from a Box is a modified shipping container with a built-in
       WiFi, irrigation system, solar panels, weather tracking devices,
       batteries and more. It also contains seedlings, farming
       equipment and a training program to provide communities with the
       tools the need to feed themselves. Photo credit: Farm from a Box
       It’s also equipped with high-efficiency LED lighting, secured
       storage, a mobile charging area, Wi-Fi and a remote monitoring
       solution. Oh, and seeds and farming tools of course.
       Each unit is capable of producing crops for one hectare of land
       (2.47 acres), the company says.
       [quote]“Farm from a Box is the ‘Swiss-Army knife’ of sustainable
       farming,” [/quote]Brandi DeCarli, Farm from a Box co-founder,
       said in September.
       While Farm from a Box seems ideal for many communities
       worldwide, it could be a food security solution for areas
       without reliable access to electricity or water.
       “Based on extensive field research, we found that rural
       communities often lack the resources and infrastructure needed
       to access nutritious food,” DeCarli said. “We developed a
       toolkit that contains all of the core components needed to grow
       your own food, on a two acre plot of land, without the need for
       an existing grid. Imagine the good it can do by growing local,
       organic food for a school, or helping jumpstart food production
       after a disaster. ‘Farm from a Box’ enables and empowers
       communities to provide for themselves.”
       Thinking outside the “box,” the farm also comes with a training
       program that covers ecological farming practices, technology
       use, maintenance and basic business and entrepreneurship. A
       fully operational pilot project is planned for deployment at a
       local women’s cooperative in the Rift Valley in Ethiopia later
       this year to help shape and refine the training and
       implementation program.
       A prototype installation called the “Adam” has been running at
       Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma, California since September.
       [img
       width=640]
  HTML http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sonoma.jpg[/img]
       [center]Launching of the Sonoma unit at Santa Rosa Junior
       College’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. Photo
       credit: Farm from a Box[/center]
       The boxes are fully customizable and Fast Company reports that
       each unit costs between $25,000-$45,000, depending on its
       technology specs.
       Last month, Farm from a Box announced a partnership with SMA
       America, a noted solar product manufacturer.
       “SMA is proud to partner with a company whose goal is to bring
       independence to communities around the globe by providing the
       tools they need to sustain themselves, both nutritionally and
       financially,” said Marko Wittich, SMA executive vice president
       of sales for the Americas region. “Farm from a Box isn’t
       charity; it empowers and strengthens communities with
       sustainable solutions, powered by renewable energy.”
  HTML http://ecowatch.com/2015/12/02/farm-from-a-box/
       #Post#: 4187--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Sustainable Farming
       By: AGelbert Date: December 14, 2015, 7:28 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center][img
       width=640]
  HTML https://therealviews.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/dozen-oysters-at-maras.jpg[/img][/center]
       [center]Talking Louisiana Oysters[/center]
       Posted On December 14, 2015 by Ryan Ono
       [center]
       [img
       width=640]
  HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/John-Supan-Director_TW.jpg[/img][/center]
       [center]Dr. John Supan
       [/center]
       Ah, Louisiana. Famous for seafood dishes including shrimp
       étouffée, oyster po’boys and blackened redfish.  Although some
       of you reading may now be thinking of lunch, there are some
       great stories behind the recipes, and the efforts people make to
       secure your meal’s ingredients now and in the future.
       One of those people is Dr. John Supan, the Louisiana Sea Grant
       Oyster Research Laboratory Director who oversees a new oyster
       hatchery on Grand Isle that provides the larvae, or “seed”, for
       shellfish farmers and oyster reef rehabilitation efforts.  We
       recently asked him some questions about how this hatchery helps
       ensure coastal areas are resilient not only for Louisiana’s
       culinary history, but also for the regional ecosystem.
       [quote]Oysters provide a number of services to the natural
       environment. They improve water quality by filtering water as
       they feed, help prevent coastal erosion, and also provide
       habitat for fish and other species. However, oysters and the
       people that grow them face a number of threats.[/quote]
       Ocean acidification endangers oyster production around the
       country, and the shellfish aquaculture industry is leading the
       charge to raise awareness of this threat.  A result of a
       combination of carbon pollution and nitrogen runoff pollution
       from urban and rural areas, acidification causes oyster larvae
       shells to weaken, decreasing their survival.
       Also, newly released data show between 4 and 8.3 billion oysters
       are estimated to have been lost as a result of the BP Deepwater
       Horizon oil disaster in 2010. These impacts, combined with
       ongoing impacts such as drought, floods, coastal development and
       hurricanes, make for a tough road for oysters.  The good news is
       that there are things we can do to protect oysters and the
       people that grow them, and we talked to John to learn more:
       Ocean Conservancy: How did you get started with oysters, and
       what do you enjoy about it?
       Dr. John Supan: During my master’s degree pursuit in the late
       1970’s, I worked at a pilot oyster hatchery at the Gulf Coast
       Research Laboratory in Biloxi, MS.  There, I learned about
       breeding, rearing and maintaining oysters.  I also learned to
       build things, plumbing and wiring systems to support growing
       aquatic organisms which appeals to my “blue collar” background.
       I most enjoy the daily sense of accomplishment—seeing things
       growing due to your work, as opposed to staring at a computer
       screen.
       OC: Earlier this year, the oyster hatchery you direct was
       rebuilt and reopened.  Can you explain why this occurred, what’s
       new and what is its purpose?
       JS: It’s been said that every storm cloud has a silver lining.
       Hurricane Katrina wiped out our old facility, and due to the
       recent availability of funds, I began designing a new hatchery
       that could address the 26 years of problems I encountered while
       running a hatchery on Grand Isle.  Molluscan shellfish
       hatcheries and the larvae they raise are very vulnerable to poor
       water quality, so the new hatchery included features to address
       this.
       The old hatchery was operated seasonally (May-September) because
       it was outdoors under a shed or building, so we could not heat
       and maintain hatchery seawater temperature.  That stymied algae
       and shellfish larval growth, increasing the likelihood of
       problems, so moving hatchery operations indoors with seawater
       heating was a major improvement.
       The new hatchery has many new facility upgrades.  It’s now an
       elevated concrete and steel building that exceeds hurricane
       building codes.  We can better filter and treat incoming
       seawater.  Another new hatchery feature is a back-up power
       generator which is useful if power is unavailable, especially
       after hurricanes.  All these improvements will radically reduce
       our post-storm recovery response times from months to days.
       The purpose of the building is dictated by its source of
       funding. The hatchery is part of a $17 million Louisiana Natural
       Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) project of the BP oil spill.
       It will be used for replenishing public oyster grounds and
       providing oyster larvae and seed for private oyster culture.
       OC: Ocean acidification is a big concern particularly for
       Pacific Northwest shellfish.  How did it become a concern for
       you in the Gulf region?
       JS: Acidification may not only be caused by carbon dioxide
       impact on our oceans, but also by riverine or storm water runoff
       in our estuaries.  Over the years, I have seen oyster larvae
       failures at Grand Isle and attributed it to unfavorable
       conditions with our ambient water. Researchers working with
       Whiskey Creek Oyster Hatchery in Oregon have seen similar larvae
       failures due to their more acidic water.  They discovered a
       simple solution to save their oysters: pumping a saturated
       solution of soda ash (an antacid) into the hatchery’s seawater
       lines to raise the pH to 8.25, which is ideal for oysters.
       Learning from Whiskey Creek’s experience, we are using soda ash
       to do the same.
       OC: What is your future hope for this hatchery, and oysters in
       Louisiana from an aquaculture and wild ecosystem perspective?
       JS: It is important that we have a viable oyster fishery in
       Louisiana to help support our coastal economy, ecological
       services, and our culture and cuisine.  Wild oyster production
       is naturally cyclical, but hatcheries can help augment wild
       production by providing larvae for public and private oyster
       seed production.
       Hatcheries can also support private oyster culture by improving
       survival, shell growth, meat yield, and overall production,
       which traditionally accounts for nearly 80% of the oysters
       harvested in Louisiana.
  HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2015/12/14/talking-louisiana-oysters/#more-11222
  HTML http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2015/12/14/talking-louisiana-oysters/#more-11222
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