You’re Invited to UDC CAUSES Aquaponics Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

You’re Invited to UDC CAUSES Aquaponics Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The University of the District of Columbia’s (UDC) College of Agriculture Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) will come together with community members next Tuesday to cut the ribbon on the new aquaponics system at UDC-Van Ness campus. Join us for a tour of the new greenhouse, demonstrations of the aquaponics system and remarks by Dr. Sabine O’Hara, Dean of CAUSES and Director of the University’s Landgrant Programs and Tommy Wells, Director of Department of Energy & Environment.

Aquaponics — a combination of hydroponics (growing plants in nutrient rich water) and aquaculture (fish production) — is a growing field that presents not only potential career options but helps students learn about fish and plant life, photosynthesis and life cycles. In an aquaponics system, fish and plants grow together. The systems convert waste produced by the fish into fertilizer for plants, which in turn filter water that enters the fish habitat. The new system coincides with our mission of creating economic self-sufficiency through the building of green jobs and community ownership.

In May 2016, UDC held a ribbon-cutting for its first aquaponics facility at the East Capitol Urban Farm in Ward 7. UDC was awarded $519,500 to establish and operate four aquaponic demonstration projects in Wards 3, 5, 7 and 8 to breed fish and serve as a base for job-skills and entrepreneurship training for low-skilled and semi-skilled District residents. When combined with a small greenhouse, each facility is expected to generate 500 pounds of fish and 5,000 pounds of produce annually.