Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

You Grow Food Aquaponics (YGF) has developed a closed loop aquaponics system for production of vegetables and fish protein. When the system is scaled up, it will produce an excess of high quality natural fertilizer from fish and vegetable waste, which is digested in a proprietary microbial fermentation process on site. The company wishes to explore optimization of this product for new markets. The Institute for Sustainable Horticulture at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will bring its experience with beneficial microbes and biofertilizers to partner with the industry partner to characterize and optimize a new aquaponic biofertilizer product. Input variables of the system; fish waste, vegetable waste, microbial inoculant, and temperature, will be studied to correlate with the output - that being the most valuable biofertilizer product as determined by analyzing nutrient profile, microbial activity and response of plants. The company will benefit from the expertise of KPU to address its product development research challenges, and KPU will benefit from expanding its ability to work with local small and medium sized businesses in its region. Students will benefit from the opportunity to participate in a new food production system and applied research. The new biofertilizer will be non-toxic to fish and therefore of high value in agricultural and horticultural situations where sensitive fish habitat must be protected.