Team:Lambert GA/Sustainable
GOAL #2: ZERO HUNGER
Through public education and development of the aquaponics system, the end goal of AgroSENSE is to empower residents living in food deserts to produce locally sourced, nutritious food. In addition we are providing open source plans for a DIY aquaponics system. AgroSENSE will increase accessibility to nutrient dense produce, thus contributing to the Zero Hunger Sustainable Development Goal. Lambert iGEM spoke with the Gwinnett Coalition and the Atlanta Food Bank, both of whom work directly with people residing in food deserts. We spoke to Mrs. Suzy Bus, a Program Director and Mrs. Lecia Young, a Program Coordinator both at the Gwinnett Coalition. By collaborating with these stakeholders, AgroSENSE has the potential to directly impact food insecurity and hunger, not only in Atlanta, but to other food deserts and nonprofits that may be interested in utilizing aquaponic systems to address food insecurity worldwide. Much of the world’s population live in urban areas which are ideal locations for this type of agriculture; reducing carbon emissions from food transportation costs, decreasing water consumption over traditional agriculture and increasing crop yields through optimized nutrient, pH and environmental control [1]. (See Human Practices: Integrated)
GOAL #3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING
A key reason there is a significantly high proportion of diet-related health issues in food deserts is due to limited access to healthy, nutrient-dense fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables. Food options are limited to either highly processed junk food or fast foods which have been linked to chronic illnesses, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and even premature death [2]. Lambert iGEM’s AgroSENSE proposes a solution to these problems by developing an aquaponics system that enables those in food deserts to grow their own fresh produce. Produce grown via aquaponics is more nutrient-dense compared to traditional farming, where products may be prematurely harvested [3]. Furthermore, aquaponic systems promote sustainable agriculture which is not as susceptible to pests, droughts, floods, harmful runoff, thus reducing ecological footprints [1]. Additionally, our system can be easily adapted to serve as a community garden that provides spaces for neighbors to learn about agriculture and sustainability while providing healthy food close to home. In addition, research shows that maintaining gardens decreases stress [4] [5]. Beyond improving access to nutrient-dense produce, community gardens “empower powerful neighborhood-level social change” [6]. Growing fresh produce using aquaponics increases educational opportunities and the accessibility residents of food deserts have to healthy foods, which ultimately contributes to increasing their health and well-being (See Project: Proposed Implementation)
GOAL #4: QUALITY EDUCATION
AgroSENSE not only aims to provide opportunities to grow and distribute foods but also to educate the public about nutrition and the power of aquaponics. In implementing our project, we targeted local teachers who were willing to provide meaningful feedback regarding the feasibility of implementation into classroom settings. Educators are ideal because instead of distributing genetically modified biosensors to the general public, which could pose a significant safety concern, we would depend on trained teachers to use and dispose of the cells safely. Because of COVID-19, our team was not able to get to the implementation stage, but we received and utilized feedback from educators regarding the future implementation of our project. During Stage II, year 2, of AgroSENSE, we plan on collaborating with teachers to create an after school program, which would emphasize accountability and responsibility when it comes to working on a research project and introduce students to biotechnology and agriculture through hydroponics. The program will give students opportunities for career development if they aspire to work in STEM. AgroSENSE was designed to inspire students to help their own communities. With over 73.3 billion dollars produced from Georgia’s agriculture industry, our project can open up future career options for students [7]. By introducing students to the power of aquaponics, which many consider the future of agriculture, we hope to provide them the resources to become the next generation leaders in agricultural biotechnology [8]. Furthermore, our team looked into the curricula of high school courses in which our project could be integrated, including biology, agricultural sciences, chemistry, environmental science, and biotechnology of all levels. We spoke to several different teachers, and all of them showed interest in our project and mentioned they would consider blending our project into their coursework as a hands-on, real-world opportunity to see science in action. AgroSENSE is working to raise awareness about the endless possibilities of a future in STEM-related degree programs and careers using hydroponics as the platform. (See Project: Proposed Implementation)
GOAL #11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Urban agriculture is far from the novel as plots of land in cities across the US were requisitioned for community gardens to supplement food for unemployed individuals during the Great Depression [9]. Additionally, Victory Gardens were planted in both WWI and WWII to reduce dependence on food needed for the war efforts [10]. As urban sprawl continues to increase, open space and clean water and soil are at a premium necessitating a need for nontraditional forms of agriculture that require less space and resources. Aquaponics and hydroponics are both considered city-friendly, with 90% less water in comparison to traditional agriculture, and have a smaller ecological footprint [3]. As populations are increasing and urban sprawl continues, communities within cities need opportunities to grow their own fresh produce. Vertical hydroponic systems like AgroSENSE have small footprints allowing implementation in areas as small as utility closets to mobile shipping containers. We envision a future where every apartment building and community center will have its own aquaponic system, educating, entertaining and providing food for the residents.
In Phase II of our project, our goal is to link our hydroponics system to a fish tank creating a functional aquaponics system reducing dependence on outside sources of fertilizers. With a growing trend towards growing food closer to the source, reducing energy consumption and environmental footprint, AgroSENSE offers a system with greater vegetable output in a shorter period of time and decreased waste compared to traditional agriculture [3]. Start-up costs are cited as a deterrent to the implementation of hydroponics and aquaponics systems, but Lambert iGEM has made free plans available on their 2020 wiki page [11]. Additional support will be offered by way of educational outreach in the form of teacher workshops to assist in building, skilling, and re-skilling educators regarding systems maintenance, and implementation into existing school curricula. These workshops will be videoed and translated into other languages for easy access. We chose to work with teachers as they are closely in touch with the needs of the people they serve and schools are the heart of the communities [12]. We hope to expand our workshop offerings to food banks, shelters, and ministry. (See Project: Proposed Implementation)
REFERENCES
[1] Yanquiling, R. (2018). Aquaponics: a smart and innovative way to feed cities. Urbanize Hub. Retrieved from https://urbanizehub.com/aquaponics-smart-innovative-feeding-cities/
[2] Center for Disease Control. (2020). Poor Nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/nutrition.htm
[3] Love, D. C., Fry, J. P., Li, X., Hill, E. S., Genello, L., Semmens, K., & Thompson, R. E. (2015). Commercial aquaponics production and profitability: Findings from an international survey. Aquaculture, 435, 67-74. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848614004724
[4] Thompson, R. (2018). Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening. Clinical Medicine, 18(3), 201. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334070/
[5] Lee, M. S., Lee, J., Park, B. J., & Miyazaki, Y. (2015). Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study. Journal of Physiological anthropology, 34(1), 21. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40101-015-0060-8
[6] Albornoz, S. (2015). Strengthening communities through community gardens. Sustainable Food Center. Retrieved from https://sustainablefoodcenter.org/latest/gardening/strengthening-communities-through-community-gardens#
[7] Georgia Farm Bureau. (2020). Agriculture - Georgia’s $73 billion industry. About Georgia Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.gfb.org/education-and-outreach/about-ga-agriculture.cms
[8] Woodward, K. (2017). Hydroponics: the future of farming. Food Processing Technology. Retrieved from https://www.foodprocessing-technology.com/features/featurehydroponics-the-future-of-farming-5901289/
[9] Community of Gardens. (n.d.). Pingree’s potato patches. Smithsonian Gardens. Retrieved from https://communityofgardens.si.edu/items/show/29
[10] Schumm, L. (2014). America’s patriotic victory gardens. History. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/americas-patriotic-victory-gardens
[11] Kivenson, M. (2016). Aquaponics systems vs conventional farming methods. Science Forward. Retrieved from https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/cheng2016/2016/09/23/aquaponic-systems-vs-conventional-farming-methods/#
[12] McClure, M. B., Hall, K. C., Brooks, E. F., Allen, C. T., & Lyle, K. S. (2020) A pedagogical approach to science outreach. PLoS Biol 18(4): e3000650. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000650