Featured business:
LU aquaculture project explores raising blue gill
News Tribune 11/04/2005 11:13:40
Michelle ReagunLand grant universities, like Lincoln University, have a mandate to serve the agriculture community.Aquaculture is the latest research project LU has taken on to serve minority and small-operation farmers.Larger universities may conduct basic research.But for LU projects, "our goal is to take the information collected to the farmer within three years," said Chuck Hicks, research investigator for aquaculture.Unlike national studies, LU research findings "are relevant to locality and the people who could use it," Hicks said.To remain strong in the world market, American farmers must diversify.And with the trend toward healthier, high protein foods, the World Food Organizations suggests aquaculture may need to increase production by 25 percent to meet future demands, Hicks said.This is a one-pound blue gill, a fish that has been successfully bred, hatched and grown at the aquaculture center on Lincoln University's Carver Farm at Jefferson City. The fish isn't quite two years old. (News Tribune/Julie Smith photo)
This region of the country does not have a prominent fish food source, Hicks said.In the southeast, catfish has become a viable farm product. Because that region has a longer growing season, the central region cannot compete in catfish, Hicks said.That's why blue gill sunfish, a native to Missouri, was selected. Local colloquialism may call them perch, but Hicks corrected that true perch are in the bass family and come from the Great Lakes.LU researchers are developing the methodology to make blue gill sunfish a food fish item, Hicks said.Three main goals of this grant-driven research are to create a fast-growing, high density race, to construct an efficient recirculating system to discard waste and to develop ways to convert unused agriculture buildings into aquaculture environments."The problem with Missouri is it hasn't had a full-blown, coordinated aquaculture program in the state," Hicks said. "There's not enough research and resources available."That's why land-grant universities conduct such research, to look for the diseases and environment needs that could devastate farmers investments."We feel we serve small farmers, with limited income resources," Hicks said.To keep small farms viable, they must diversify. But that means products must be reliable and profitable."If we add another dimension to their capabilities, then there's a better opportunity of them staying on the farm," Hicks said. "Farming is a difficult way of life; it's not easy to make money."Still, agriculture is one of the largest industries in the U.S."American farmers are efficient, innovative and aware of technology, said Russell Gerlach, aquaculture project coordinator. That's why a land-grant university must stay ahead with its research, he said.Seafood, such as salmon, have known proteins and fatty acids that are healthy for humans, especially for the heart and circulatory system, Hicks said. And fish is an easily digestible protein, high quality with low fat."It's the ideal food for a lot of people," Hicks said.If the health potential for seafood is taken seriously, the demand could significantly increase domestically, Hicks said.The aquaculture industry should be developed in preparation for that potential future, Hicks said.Currently, each American consumes about 16 pounds of seafood per year. That's less than the average person elsewhere in the world.To keep up with predicted population demand for protein, the World Food Organization has suggested aquaculture must assume a greater responsibility.Worldwide, the U.S. is a small contributor to the aquaculture market. The U.S. imports most of its seafood currently, which creates a negative balance in trade."Let our farmers have the opportunity to profit economically rather than another country," Hicks said.The first year, the researchers began with commercial fish, pulling the largest and smallest for genetic testing. This spring the offspring of those first selected fish will be tested for how fast they grew.Then this third year a molecular geneticist will be hired to find the right genetic component to encourage fast growth and disease resistance."They have to be market-ready in about a year," Hicks said. "These facilities are like paying rent."(A farmer) can't wait five years for growth as in the wild."The ultimate goal is a fish that reaches about .75 of a pound in 16 months. At 11 months, some of the second-year fish have reached .33 of a pound."We've made good progress," Hicks said.Four researchers currently on staff are charged with an education responsibility too.Hiring student assistants will offer "a great experience before they look to see what they really want to do," Hicks said.The aquaculture research will be expanded in the future to other species, Hicks said.In fact, last year a simple test for better survival rates of freshwater shrimp resulted in some helpful tips for small-business farmers, Hicks said.The aquaculture program is not the first nor the last research project at the George Washington Carver and Busby Farms. Sweet potatoes, sheep and goats, hydroponic greenhouses, and methane gas emissions for cultured plants are also currently being researched."I don't think many in Mid-Missouri know much about LU's contributions to education and research," Hicks said. "But that will change with better collaboration between the university and the community in the future."Aquaculture industry problems and objectivesThe Missouri Department of Agriculture issued "Missouri Aquaculture, A Status Report" in April 1994 defining five industry problems and constraints:·Deficiency in institutional research and development in aquaculture in Missouri.
·Integration of aquaculture with traditional agriculture.
·Federal and state regulations.
·Integration of aquaculture with traditional agriculture.
·Marketing, processing and product development.
·Natural resource allocation.
In 1998, the Missouri Aquaculture Coordinating Council announced a strategic plan mission for the "develpoment of an economically sound and environmentally responsible aquaculture industry in Missouri."The plan identified objectives including:·Assessing statutes and regulations that may burden the aquaculture industry.
·Encouraging the used of sound scientific information in the formation of regulations and policies.
·Evaluating feasible aquculture opportunities which are environmentally friendly.
The university is poised to serve as the nucleus for the formation of extensionand academic programs in Missouri aquaculture, according to the 2000-2001 annual report.
Back
More headlines
