Executive Summary for Commercial Aquaponics From PFAS LLC ...portablefarms.com/thank/UNEUReport.pdf · ©2015 Colle Davis. CEO, PFAS LLC ... (LGF-JCP) Report Created for the United

1

©2015 Colle Davis. CEO, PFAS LLC – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. [email protected]

http://portablefarms.com. Director of Aquaponics University http://aquaponicsuniversity.com.

PFAS LLC is based in Florida, USA. 239-829-5526. Skype: portfarmer

Executive Summary for Commercial Aquaponics

From PFAS LLC

©2008-2015 Colle Davis – All Rights Reserved

Commercial Aquaponics GOLD

A Sustainable Solution: A Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP)

Report Created for the United Nations and the European Union as a Program to Feed and

Create Jobs for Displaced Persons and Asylum Seekers

- Urban-Focused Food Hyper-Production with Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (utility

patent application filed 12/23/2013) - Investment range US$250,000 to US$50,000,000 – Easily

Operated by Local Women or Men, Semi-skilled or Unskilled Labor, Jobs Created under each

Funded Program.

The goal of the Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP) is to establish a

decentralized, distributed food-production system based on current practices for aquaponics.

The break-even point on the commercial facilities is reached very quickly and with an ongoing

demand for high-quality, local grown, pesticide-free food, this food production program can

weather most problems and downturns.

2




By selling a large portion of the vegetables and fish grown in Portable Farms® Aquaponics

Systems (PFAS) to the local high-end markets, the installations can become self-sustaining.

We applaud the goals established by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and it is our pleasure to offer you PFAS LLC’s suggestions toward achieving these life-affirming benchmarks between now and 2030.

Phyllis Davis, President, PFAS LLC, and Co-Inventor, Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems, showing bok choy

that were just harvested. The average weight of these bok choy is 5kg (11 lbs.) each.

PFAS LLC is one of the only companies in the world offering a

successful commercial aquaponics system with a patent pending technology plus assembly and operations trainings.

http://portablefarms.com/

3




Table of Contents

Key Points of This Report .......................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 8

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) ............................................................................................. 13

Overview of aquaponics ......................................................................................................................... 14

Overview of Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems ............................................................................... 18

Our Approach .......................................................................................................................................... 19

Company History and Bios ...................................................................................................................... 24

Five Aquaponics Books Written by Colle and Phyllis Davis and published in 2015 ................................ 24

Revenue Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 27

Business Structure .................................................................................................................................. 29

Investment Packages .............................................................................................................................. 32

PFAS LLC Project Management Assistance Services ............................................................................... 34

Appendix A: Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems’ Yield Results ......................................................... 35

Mineral Rock Dust – Organic Additive for Micro and Macro Elements .................................................. 36

Tomatoes ................................................................................................................................................ 37

Exhibit A - Spread Sheet for Expenses and Production Results .............................................................. 40

For more information, contact:

Colle Davis, Inventor, Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (utility patent application filed

12/23/2013)

CEO, PFAS LLC

Director of Aquaponics University

[email protected]

PFAS LLC is a Florida based company in the USA

239-829-5526

Skype: portfarmer

http://portablefarm.com/farm/

http://aquaponicsuniversity.com/

mailto:[email protected]

4




Colle Davis, Lead Inventor, standing next to Grow Tables for a Portable Farms® Aquaponics System. The image

on the left is the day the installation was completed before the system was turned on. The image on the right is

40 days later after the water and fish were added, and the seedlings planted in the gravel Grow Tables.

Commercial Aquaponics

A Sustainable Solution: A Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP)

Key Points of This Report:

Create immediate jobs and food for displaced persons or asylum seekers

Permanent fulltime jobs and year round food production in three months in greenhouses or warehouse

Humanitarian efforts that pay both dividends and profits

Pesticide free food, table vegetables and fish, raised in simple yet revolutionary new technology that replicates nature

Ideal for semi-skilled women or men operators and trained in less than a week

Installation can be solar powered

Total sustainability can be achieved by selling most of the food production to local markets.

5




Drawing of one module of a Portable Farms® Aquaponics System – 1.5m x 12m (5’ x 40’) Grow

Table. This one module feeds eight people and requires less than 10 minutes of maintenance

per day to feed the fish, plant seedlings and harvest vegetables. A 30m x 30m (100′ x 100′)

greenhouse structure with 30 separate module units and produces 80,000 vegetables and

10,400 kg (23,000 pounds) of fish per year.

This technology can be operated by women or men who are considered semi-skilled or

unskilled labor. This one aquaponics module (picture above) can grow most common table

vegetables (greens and some blooming plants such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and

beans). Plus, it also raises aquatic animals, fresh water/warm water fish, such as tilapia or

catfish. These fish are harvested in between 7 and 9 months when they reach 0.5 kilos (1.25

pounds) (yields two 114g / 4-ounce fillets).

One commercial sized Grow Table of 18.5m2 (200 sq. ft.) plus 1500 liter (400 gallon) Fish Tank

and one Clarifier is considered one module. In this well-designed aquaponics system with

crushed gravel as the medium base, a Grow Table space of 18.5m2 (200 sq. ft.) feeds eight

adults their table vegetables year round – FOREVER. The Grow Table and Fish Tank may be

constructed with local materials such as lumber and locally obtained food grade rubber plastic

commonly used for livestock watering troughs. The Grow Tables and Fish Tanks may also be

made from cement.

To view Phyllis Davis’ (co-inventor Portable Farms® Aquaponics System and President, PFAS

LLC) impassioned plea on a YouTube Video in favor of aquaponics to feed the world, CLICK

HERE. Mrs. Davis received second place in the California Inventors Contest for her invention via

this presentation.

http://portablefarms.com/

https://youtu.be/eX-2YmVjohU

https://youtu.be/eX-2YmVjohU

6




After years of establishing the Portable Farms® brand and applying for our Utility Patent

application for Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems with the United States Patent and

Trademark Office (December 2013), PFAS LLC’s business has grown globally and we receive

over 1,000 inquires each month from more than 140 countries from people interested in

commercial aquaponics and each month, this number of inquiries continues to grow.

This report presents the solutions to problems that we have faced while working in the field of medium-based aquaponics (gravel or substrate based systems) over many decades of working with our customers from all over the world to offer the EU a solution to create jobs and feed displaced persons and asylum seekers throughout world. This report offers a respected brand for aquaponics systems that is capable of creating jobs and feeding people fresh locally grown food that is free of pesticides and requires very little labor, water or electrical power to operate.

Solar power is easily adapted to operate these systems which allows for the application of grow lights for indoor growing in greenhouses, warehouses or enclosed structures for year round growing in cold climates or regions with short growing seasons.

View a two minute video clip of the interior of the 4.8m x 10m (16’ x 33′) Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems. This small Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (in video) feeds ten people their table vegetables and some of their protein (tilapia), the food they need for optimal health forever in 48m2 (528 sq. ft.) total space and 18.5m2 (200 sq. ft.) of grow space. This video has been viewed more than 35,000 times. CLICK HERE.

Aquaponics is easier and more productive than organic gardening or traditional agriculture and uses 90 to 95% less water than growing food in soil. Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems also use less electricity and less labor than any other aquaponics system in the world.

Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems grows enough varieties of plants (greens and blooming plants), and protein (fish) to sustain human health to its optimum level for children or adults.

These food systems are easily operated by women or men, semi-skilled or unskilledlabor, seniors, those with ambulatory disabilities (the Grow Trays can be made wheel-chair accessible height) and even responsible 14-year olds can operate Portable Farms® by planting and harvesting the food at waist-high Grow Tables and feeding the fish.

https://youtu.be/P0nt1hqqrI4

7




There have been over 300 different varieties of plants (also referred to in this report as ‘table vegetables’) that have been tested and can be grown successfully in a Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems.

The major food groups that are not recommended for Portable Farms® are root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions, etc.) and field crops such as corn, wheat, soy or rice. Perennial plants (strawberries, blackberries, asparagus, etc.) are not recommended because the plants are dormant many months each year and do not produce harvestable food year round. Plus, we recommend growing all plants from seeds and not bringing in plants raised in soil into the structure which can introduce pathogens that can harm the other plants in the structure.

8




Introduction

The PFAS LLC Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP) is focused on two very

different and closely related problems facing the world today:

1. The need to produce high quality, locally grown, pesticide-free food, and,

2. To create permanent fulltime jobs for women or men, semi-skilled or unskilled workers.

Implementing a decentralized food production system using cutting edge hyper-productive

food growing methods is the key to a successful project resulting in sustainable installations

that also generate a very respectable ROI for the donors or investors excluding land costs.

In line with the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and goals in the

“Future We Want,” the ideas outlined in this report support the UN’s initiatives and

commitments to sustainable development, creation of economic opportunities, skills and

apprentice training, stopping the cycle of poverty and feeding the world:

1) “We, the Heads of State and Government and high-level representatives, having met at

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, with the full participation of civil society,

renew our commitment to sustainable development and to ensuring the promotion of

an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for our planet and for

present and future generations.

2) Eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an

indispensable requirement for sustainable development. In this regard we are

committed to freeing humanity from poverty and hunger as a matter of urgency.

3) We therefore acknowledge the need to further mainstream sustainable development at

all levels, integrating economic, social and environmental aspects and recognizing their

interlinkages, so as to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions.”

By selling a large portion of the vegetables and fish grown in Portable Farms® Aquaponics

Systems (PFAS) to local high end markets, the aquaponic’s installations become self-

sustaining. These sales are necessary to pay for ongoing costs of operation, salaries, seeds and

seed supplies, fish and fish food, utilities and ancillary costs associated with maintenance.

Selling all or most of the food grown in Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) offers

donors or investors a 3 to 5-year ROI depending on the crops grown and the prices received.

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/futurewewant.html

9




Using proprietary Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) technology and design, each

2.5m2 (25 square feet) of grow space can feed one adult all of their table vegetables, except for

root vegetables (potatoes, yams, onions and carrots, etc.) year round and once up to full

production about 20% of their protein requirement, forever. These people will also need some

other starches/carbohydrates in their diets such as ‘field crops’ as wheat, potatoes, soy, corn or

rice. These starchy foods are generally available and less expensive than table vegetables.

This 4.9m x 10m (16’ x 33’) Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) can feed ten people most of their table

vegetables and some of their protein requirement year round and provides 18.6m2 (200 sq. ft.) of growing

space.

In addition to growing high quality, pesticide-free, locally grown food, this program is

specifically designed to create jobs in each location. After the initial installation, each

additional 1,000m2 (10,000 sq. ft.) installation creates three permanent full-time job and leads

to the creation of additional indirect jobs in support services, supplies and ancillary work

including areas related to maintenance and utilities, food packaging, fish processing,

community relations and marketing, personnel oversight, bookkeeping and security.

Whether the displaced persons or asylum seekers are placed in urban or rural locations, the

availability of locally grown food and jobs remains a vital decision to be made by those funding

the projects since the world population is expected to reach beyond its limitations for providing

both food and jobs by the 2030 projections by the United Nations.

10




In the twenty-first century, the world faces an environmental crisis, issues related to displaced

peoples from regional conflicts, climate change (drought and flooding as well as record-setting

heat waves) and an energy crisis. Also, many parts of the world face severe food shortages.

Twentieth century agricultural techniques have harmed the environment and consume an

inordinate amount of energy and water. Many countries lack the large amounts of arable land

and water needed to sustain their growing human populations. Developing nations use large

amounts of pesticides and artificial fertilizers to grow their grains, fruits, and vegetables. At the

same time, they use huge amounts of gasoline, natural gas and diesel fuel to power their farm

machinery, produce electricity to process their food, and enormous amounts of fuel to ship the

processed food to grocery stores. The raising of farm animals, particularly cattle and swine, is

notoriously inefficient in terms of the amount of land and energy required to raise corn and

other animal feed for each pound of protein produced.

With increasingly volatile weather conditions, bigger storms, heavier rains, and more intense

droughts, aquaponics offers easy solutions that outweigh issues related to traditional

agriculture. Climate change effects not just food prices, but also food availability. Although not

all vegetables can be grown using the PFAS, it has been successful in growing over 300 varieties

of produce that are larger, more flavorful and more nutritious than those found in most stores.

Unless the food production paradigm is changed quickly, many countries of the world run the

increasing risk of domestic food shortages that often spark the kind of riots and social chaos

played out around the world.

With the population growth the projected at 9.1 billion in 2050, there must be a shift towards

vegetarianism and the option for farm-raised fish as a protein source for many, and a shift away

from meat-heavy diets, but this will take time.

In a 2009 report by The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO),

Global Agriculture by 2050, states, “The projections show that feeding a world

population of 9.1 billion people in 2050 would require raising overall food production by

some 70 percent between 2005/07 and 2050.”

February 2014, “Fish to 2030: Prospects for Fisheries and Aquaculture,” a collaboration

between the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

(FAO) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) stated, “ . . .

aquaculture, fish farming, will provide close to two-thirds of global food fish

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/wsfs/docs/Issues_papers/HLEF2050_Global_Agriculture.pdf

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/02/05/fish-farms-global-food-fish-supply-2030

11




consumption by 2030 as catches from wild capture fisheries level off and demand from

an emerging global middle class, especially in China, substantially increases.”

In 2014, the United Nation’s Report on World Urbanization Prospects stated, “Globally,

more people live in urban areas than in rural areas, with 54 percent of the world’s

population residing in urban areas in 2014. In 1950, 30 percent of the world’s

population was urban, and by 2050, 66 percent of the world’s population is projected to

be urban.”

Today, the transportation costs of food delivery account for up to half of the cost of some food

items. By removing the impact of transportation on the cost of food by growing food locally,

PFAS LLC’S Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP), immediately makes onsite

food production profitable as farming and transportation equipment costs continue to escalate

over the coming years in addition to the increased amount of food required to feed a growing

population in urban areas.

The carbon footprint of each Commercial PFAS Installation can often be reduced to a negative

value through the use of solar power because the electrical requirements are lower than any

other aquaponics technology currently available in the world today. The electrical needs are

highest during the daylight hours and are minimal during the night. When placed in climatically

adapted structures that allows the temperatures to fluctuate over time, the energy

requirements are kept to a minimum. Solar power is now an economical alternative and in

most cases more reliable than local grid power.

The PFAS LLC Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP) can be structured several

ways to match the needs of the governmental agency, organization, institution or investor. It

can be a one-time installation, an ongoing building project, a territorial expansion of the

technology or even a country-wide program to increase food supplies and reduce joblessness.

It can be a multi-phase project beginning with major urban areas in a country/province/state

and spread over five years or a longer period. The funds generated by the operations and any

additional follow-up funding can be used to fund further expansion. See INVESTMENT

PACKAGES below for the impact of each level of funding.

http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/Highlights/WUP2014-Highlights.pdf

12




Phyllis Davis (Co-Inventor Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems and President PFAS LLC), holding one single head

of India Mustard (a lettuce-type green) grown in a Portable Farms® Aquaponics System.

Aquaponics is closer to ‘nature’ than hydroponics and the food harvested has the rich flavor

and comparable nutrient content similar to traditional garden crops and aquaponics does not

require pesticides or harsh chemicals to grow healthy food plus it requires 95% less water than

traditional agriculture.

13




Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a global trend that allows year-round and state-of-

the-art and food production because of the multitude of advantages for controlling the growing

environment for maximum production yields. These include:

Extended growing season – often year round

Greatly reduced consumption of water even with in-ground growing methods

Less expensive and more accurate pest control – often pests are eliminated as a

problem

Ability to control light, humidity and temperature

The opportunity to install grow lights for extended growing seasons for growing a wider

variety of crops, especially important for blooming plants such as tomatoes, peppers,

cucumbers, etc.

Makes solar energy a viable option to enhance reliability and reduce carbon impact

Less chance for crop losses due to weather, pests, water loss, and theft

Efficient use of organic nutrients for maximum production.

The Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) are always installed in climatically adapted

structures (greenhouses or with the additional use of grow lights, a warehouse) without the use

of soil, pesticides or chemicals. The PFAS use less than 1/10th the amount of land and from 90

to 95% less water than traditional agricultural growing techniques, and produces both fish and

vegetables year round, regardless of the climate. The installations are low-tech and do not

require heavy machinery or significant infrastructure to build or operate. The PFAS has the

lowest energy requirements of any aquaponics systems currently available.

The PFAS LLC Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP) also trains local workers

to build the Grow Table Modules and trains the Operators in the most effective methods of

operating the installations. Operators can be trained in less than one week.

14




Overview of aquaponics

Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants in

water only), in a carefully designed, hyper-productive closed-loop system. In addition to

producing large quantities of food, the LGF-JCP creates permanent full-time jobs for women or

men, unskilled to semi-skilled laborers using a low-tech, high-intensity food production

method. This program creates a dispersed food production facility on both a macro and micro-

scale.

Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems relates to agriculture and more particularly, to the

farming of aquatic animals and the use of their waste as fertilizing nutrients to grow

vegetables in a closed loop recirculating system.

Tilapia, the fresh-water, warm-water fish used in Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems.

A worker hauling gravel one pan at a time to fill a Module in a newly constructed

Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) in Legos, Nigeria.

15




Many areas of the world, such as California, require elaborate and expensive aqueducts and

irrigation systems to deliver potable water to farming regions. Extensive irrigation has lowered

ground-water tables in some areas so dramatically that ground water is no longer available. A

tremendous amount of fresh water evaporates or is otherwise wasted with conventional

farming methods. Developing countries often lack the financial resources, arable land and

technology to produce sufficient food, and in particular, they lack enough protein to maintain

the health of their human populations. There are also health concerns raised by humans

consuming pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables and hormones in chicken, pork and beef.

Wild birds and animals are adversely affected by pesticide and fertilizer. Local waters (ponds,

rivers, and streams) are also polluted by the runoff from the pesticides and fertilizers used for

local growing.

There is a need to promote a new "green" and sustainable methods of farming around the

world to create ‘locally grown food’ in any region to produce healthier food that requires far

less land and water, and at the same time, is environmentally friendly by employing the use of

aquaponics systems to feed people healthy food.

Aquaponics:

• Eliminates the need or use of artificial chemicals or pesticides

• Provides sustainability for people locally

• Substantially reduces energy consumption for planting, harvesting and shipping food,

and greenhouse gas emissions

• Also, provides jobs for local people thereby strengthening the local economy for

expanded community business opportunities such as restaurants and shops.

Kale growing in a Portable Farms® Aquaponics System

16




Aquaponics has been explored for several decades as a possible solution to the future for

improving the environmental and solving the problems of food shortage problems. Aquaponics

combines the art of growing aquatic animals (fish), known as aquaculture, with the modern

technology of hydroponics in which plants are grown without soil. In aquaponics, fish and

plants are grown together in an integrated closed loop recirculating system with a very low rate

of water usage or water loss due to evaporation. The fish waste (effluent) produced by the fish

is delivered from the fish tank to a settling tank to remove the heavy ‘waste’ and then sent to

the Grow Tables to provide a food source for growing plants in the gravel and the plants

provide a natural filter for the water that keeps the fish healthy. This symbiotic relationship

between the fish and the growing plants is the goal of aquaponics by creating a sustainable

ecosystem in which both fish and plants can thrive and as a result, produces safe, fresh protein

and healthy vegetables. The addition of a tiny amount of a fish friendly organically certified

(USDA in California) mineral rock dust is necessary for blooming plants to be fully productive.

Phyllis Davis holding 8 large kale plants grown in PFAS.

The average height of each plant of kale is 1.2m (47”) tall.

Aquaponics systems heretofore developed have not met with widespread success. Previously,

aquaponics systems have been complex and labor intensive to operate, difficult to construct

because to date, there has been no standard design that has proven to be easy to operate, and

they are often poorly constructed with inferior materials requiring constant attention to leaks,

challenges for disposal of the fish waste, and careful maintenance of pH levels, micronutrient

depletion and water temperature. They have also been expensive in terms of the pumps and

other electrical equipment required. Also, prior aquaponics systems have been difficult to

maintain and are prone to catastrophic system failures such as the death of the fish and plants

due to design flaws in the actual aquaponics system.

17




Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems provides improvements over all prior aquaponics systems

that have been fraught with fragility and difficulty in maintaining a healthy balance between

each of the components and the living systems. In particular, Portable Farms® Aquaponics

Systems improve waste removal from the aquaponics system, provides an improved pump to

the aquaponics system, and provides an improved Grow Table design and uses less power than

other existing aquaponics systems.

Phyllis Davis is harvesting one head of bok choy grown in PFAS.

This bok choy weighs 10k (22 pounds). A RECORD for bok choy to date.

18




Overview of Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems

The Fish Tank of the Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems contains the water and the fresh-

water fish that provides the nutrient-laden wastewater for the growth of the plants in the Grow

Table. Periodically (generally twice per day), a portion of the water is automatically removed

from the Fish Tank by the use of a uniquely designed submersed air-powered pump and

transported via pipes to a clarifier located above the Fish Tank. Lifting the water from the Fish

Tank to the clarifier is the only time energy is required to move water in the Portable Farms®

Aquaponics Systems with gravity powering the remainder of the water-flow cycle. After the

water has been delivered to the clarifier, the solid waste then settles to the bottom of the

clarifier due to a dramatic reduction in the velocity of the water flowing into the clarifier. The

water overflowing out from the clarifier is free of the solid waste matter and flows from the top

of the clarifier through a conduit pipe to the Grow Table. This clarified water is now distributed

under the gravel to fill the Grow Table to a predetermined level (much like a bathtub, it rises

evenly across the entire table). Once this predetermined water level has been attained, an

automatic valve assembly under the gravel in the Grow Table allows the water to completely

drain from the Grow Table and return to the fish tank stripped of the nutrient load by the

plants and re-oxygenated by the large surface area of the gravel and leaving the plant roots

exposed to the ambient air for maximum growth.

s

Colle Davis, Lead Inventor, Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) and CEO, PFAS LLC

19




Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) require no chemical fertilizers or

insecticides in the growing of the food.

PFAS eliminates the possibility of catastrophic system shut down because there is no

single point failure in the system and in times of short-term power outages, they can be

operated manually, without electrical power.

PFAS begins to provide healthy produce approximately twenty-eight to forty days after

installation.

The system provides a protein source (fish) within seven to nine months after the

system is operational. In one embodiment, Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems is

capable of feeding eight people with the labor of one person working only 20 minutes

per day. This size Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems requires only 1 kwh per day of

electricity (powered by any available electrical source), per module that feeds eight

people. In another embodiment, Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems is capable of

feeding 240 people with the labor of three people working full time.

PFAS uses a minimal amount of potable water for food production (the water

requirement is reduced by 90 to 95% compared with conventional farming).

PFAS is capable of providing fresh locally grown food and food security for families,

groups, and cities.

PFAS can provide local jobs for women or men, semi-skilled labor.

Also, Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems’ Technology Kits can be easily shipped

anywhere in the world and be assembled using mostly local materials and operated by

women or men, semi-skilled labor.

The Grow Tables never have to be cleaned, only the residual roots removed at harvest

time.

PFAS can be assembled and operated as a carbon negative installation.

Our Approach

Commercial-sized PFAS Units are normally built as 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) installations or

smaller, producing 9,000k (23,000lbs) of fish (Tilapia, catfish, carp or other fresh water, warm

water fish that are local favorites) and 70,000 to 200,000 vegetables per year depending on the

type and variety of plants selected and grown on the 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) footprints. Because

the Grow Tables are built 90cm (36 inches) above the ground, the land used for the systems can

be installed on abandoned lots, lots waiting to be ‘built on’ in the future (PFAS structures are

20




not permanent and can easily be moved), parking lots, or even areas where houses or buildings

were destroyed. The Grow Tables contain crushed gravel, so no soil is required. The fish waste

acts as the fertilizer for the plants, and a climatically adapted greenhouse allows for 3 to 10

harvests of greens per year (depending on the type of plants) versus the average 1 to 3 harvests

in traditional and seasonal farming. The initial markets addressed by the LGF-JCP are high-end

restaurants, casinos, resort hotels, high-end supermarkets, institutions, organizations, prisons

and schools. The fast growing and very discriminating market of the expanding middle class is

demanding the best food money can buy and are willing to pay for that type of food. They want

locally grown, pesticide free food. This market is expanding so fast it can never be satisfied in

any location in the world and institutions are always looking for ways to reduce their food costs.

This program was not initially designed to provide food to feed economically disadvantaged

people, but to give them the opportunity for permenant fulltime employment which then

provides opportunities for better nourishment, better housing and to assist in their children's

education. Instead of 'giving them a fish, they can be hired to raise fish and vegetables.'

Tilapia are harvested between 7 and 9 months when they are 27cm (11”) in length and weight 0.56k (1.25 lb.

Fish hatcheries can be established by installing small breeding tanks near the aquaponics systems. 6 females and

one male produce up to 30,000 fry per year. High protein and floating fish ‘feed’ for aquaponics is now available

and is packaged for global distribution and immediate delivery.

21




In addition to growing the highest quality, pesticide-free vegetables, PFAS produces large

quantities of top-quality fish, which provides a very healthy source of high-quality protein. For

example: A 30cm (11 inch) tilapia yields two 113g (4 oz) tilapia fillets each with - 105 calories, 1

gram fat, 23 grams protein compared to a 113g (4 oz) skinless chicken breast - 140 calories, 2

grams fat, 33 grams protein.

Tilapia fillets

The PFAS can use Tilapia, catfish, and several other species of fish as the nutrient source. Tilapia

is a white-fleshed fish with good texture, is easy to cook, and does not taste "fishy." Tilapia and

other whitefish species are popular fish of choice for people who order fish at restaurants.

Tilapia is the 4th most popular seafood in the US.

In the first six months of 2013 total tilapia exports from China reached 161,200 tonnes, 7%

more than a year earlier. In value, Chinese tilapia exports were higher by 11% with a value close

to USD 543 million. (Chinese tilapia and other fish should not be eaten because they are known

to contain high levels of toxins, heavy metals, antibiotics and other equally unsavory items).

According to FAO Globefish reports, “Tilapia farming is gaining more attention worldwide,

particularly to supply local demand in regions where local production is possible. Although

production from the largest producer, China, is reported to have declined since the start of this

year, increased supplies from other producers worldwide are keeping the market firm.”

http://www.thefishsite.com/reports/?id=3488

22




The PFAS Technology consists of a series of Modules each containing a Fish Tank, a Clarifier or

Settling Tank and a Grow Tray built out of wood (they can also be fabricated out of fiberglass or

concrete), lined and filled with gravel, as can be seen in the diagram on the top of page 17

(below):

One module of a Portable Farms® Aquaponics system. The normal size for one module in a

commercial sized farm is 1.5m x 12.1m or 1.8m x 9.75m (5’ x 40’ or 6’ x 32’)

A commercial PFAS Unit of 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) consists of 30 Modules lined up, side-by-side

in a climatically adapted structure. Once built, the system is easy to maintain, but the

components have to be assembled with precision, or the systems will not work properly. PFAS

LLC offers a complete package that trains the workers in constructing the Modules and in the

Operation of the systems. This is part of the PFAS Commercial Program Agreement. The local

labor force is taught by a leading craftsman and instructor at each initial location. These newly

trained people can, in turn, pass along these skills to others coming into the industry.

The initial funding will be allocated for building commercial a 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) Unit in

specific locations. Each 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) facility can feed 240 adults most of their table

vegetables, indefinitely. In addition, each 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) facility creates multiple jobs.

23




12 separate 40’ Grow Tables installed in a Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) in Lagos, Nigeria.

24




Company History and Bios

When PFAS LLC began offering Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems to the public market (after

research that began in 1971) with their PFAS in June 2008, they started with a single press

release that drew over 4,000 visitors from all over the world to the headquarters in San Diego,

California, location within its first year. To date, PFAS LLC receives over 1,000 commercial

aquaponics inquiries from over 140 countries per month.

The PFAS technology has since been simplified and systematized so the PFAS can be operated

by women or men, semi-skilled labor and require very low maintenance for their operations.

The majority of the operator's time is taken up with harvesting food and planting seeds and

small seedlings. To read more about the history of PFAS LLC: CLICK HERE.

PFAS LLC has created two courses that teach people learning how to assemble, maintain

and operate the technology for Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems by creating and

operating a learning division for their company, Aquaponics University: CLICK HERE.

PFAS LLC offers monthly newsletters to over 50,000 subscribers worldwide. Link to 60

monthly newsletters published since April 2012: CLICK HERE.

PFAS LLC has maintained an active Facebook Page since 2008: CLICK HERE.

PFAS LLC has published five books on various aspects in the field of aquaponics and sells them

globally to companies, organizations and individuals; all five of these books were written by

Colle and Phyllis Davis and published in 2015.

Five Aquaponics Books Written by Colle and Phyllis Davis and published in 2015

Commercial Aquaponics

Greenhouse & Warehouse

Aquaponics GOLD

Backyard Aquaponics GOLD

http://portablefarms.com/about-us/history-portable-farms/


http://portablefarms.com/portable-farms-newsletters/

https://www.facebook.com/Portable-FarmsTM-Aquaponics-System-144865008550/timeline/

https://gumroad.com/l/geyXl

http://portablefarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/greenhouse-book-cover.jpg

http://portablefarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/cover-3.jpg

https://gumroad.com/l/zolh

25




Solar Aquaponics GOLD

Aquaponics Gold

COLLE DAVIS, the inventor of Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems and

CEO, PFAS LLC, majored in the field of Renewable Natural Resources at the

University of California at Davis, and he’s been refining Portable Farms®

Aquaponics Systems for the past 43 years.

After a career as a successful entrepreneur, businessman and consultant,

Colle has always made the time to continue his research to reduce the

chronic problems of tank sediment, and he discovered a new pumping system that solved all

the clogging problems in the fish tank and made it possible for the system to automatically

remove the sediments from the fish tank without clogging the pump to grow healthier fish and

vegetables. This new system made it feasible to fully automate the farm using his own unique

engineering, so that anyone, anywhere, could raise their own food. COLLE DAVIS’ EMAIL.

PHYLLIS DAVIS - President, PFAS LLC and Co-Inventor, Portable Farms®

Aquaponics Systems. Phyllis Davis is Co-Inventor of Portable Farms

Aquaponics Systems and President of PFAS LLC. Her primary initiatives

include developing institutional marketing campaigns and working with

media to bring attention to Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems in both the

United States and global markets. Her ultimate goal is to bring awareness to aquaponics and to

demonstrate that Portable Farms® are the solutions that are needed to provide fresh, healthy

and affordable food to stop the cycle of poverty and end world hunger. She also works

diligently to improve high yields and rapid growth for the food that is planted and grown in

Portable Farms® and continues to experiment with seed varieties and excellent fish care to

maximize the efficiency for the farms. PHYLLIS DAVIS’ EMAIL.

http://portablefarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cover-1.jpg

https://gumroad.com/l/KsrKm

https://gum.co/gtRTy



26




LANE MCCLELLAND AND LAURIE ROBERTS purchased their first

Portable Farm in 2008 and installed it at the San Diego County Fair in

2009 as the central focus of their exhibit about sustainable backyard

food production winning several awards as well as introducing the

public to Aquaponics. Lane’s construction experience

(www.1888twigman.com), Laurie’s horticultural background and their

shared enthusiasm for the Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems, led

them to become professionally involved in the company over the last six years. Lane is the only

Certified Installation Instructor and Construction Supervisor, which has taken him to Botswana

and Nigeria to install commercial Portable Farms® Systems. His problem-solving ability,

construction background, and humor are highly valued by the Portable Farms® Family.

Laurie was part of the ‘back to the land movement’ in the early 70′s during which time she learned about growing food, building shelter, and artistic metal sculpting that supported her until hers. She went back to college for her BS degree in Environmental Design from Cal Poly and started her own design/build Landscape Company which specialized in native plant and drought tolerant gardens. This last decade, she developed a self-watering raised vegetable growing system called the ‘Earth Tanks’ which have been installed in 20 schools throughout the San Diego region. Most recently, she served as Project Manager, co-editor and photographer for the recently published ‘Baja California Plant Field Guide.”

http://www.1888twigman.com/

27




Potential Obstacles

The main obstacle normally sighted is the lack of availability of land in most population-dense

areas. However, with the flexibility in sizing the PFAS Units and with no soil requirements, the

quality of the land acquired is much less critical as a limiting factor. As long as the lot is

relatively level and flat, a PFAS Unit can be placed on it. Also, the land in most cases can be

leased to reduce capital investment. Nearly any open or vacant lot can be used until the owners

are ready to build on it.

Revenue Sources

Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems produces both fish and produce. The easiest to raise,

healthiest and most preferred fish to cultivate is Tilapia. Depending on the location, fresh tilapia

retails for between US$2.30 per pound (US$4/k) and US$4.50 per pound (US$8/k). The 1,000m2

(10,000 sq ft) commercial Units produce 23,000 lbs (9,000k) of fish per year, which equals

US$52,900 to US$103,000 of revenue per 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) facility, if sold at retail.

When adding in the economic value of 70,000 to 200,000 vegetables per year, that translates

into another US$160,000 to US$290,000 of revenue per Unit! Operating costs, including water,

electricity, and labor, average between US$85,000 and US$120,000 per year. Depending on the

mixture of food produced, the PFAS Units Return on Investment, dependent on crops grown

and local produce prices, can be in three to five years.

Because the food is locally grown in abundance on a small amount of land, without fertilizer or

pesticides, or the need for long distance transportation, the cost of delivery is much lower than

conventional farming methods and traditional organic farming methods. The lower cost basis

combined with an increase in production are the keys to maximizing profitability. Also,

because of the low maintenance costs of the grow units and non-reliance on petroleum-based

products, this food production method is unaffected by inflationary pressures.

28




This 1,000m2 (10,000 sq. ft.) commercial installation for Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems

is located in Botswana, Africa. ENDORSEMENT FROM FARM OWNER: CLICK HERE.

These aquaponics systems can be installed in as little as two to four weeks and can be

producing food in as little as five weeks more. The systems are simple, modular, and relatively

inexpensive and can be operated by women or men, unskilled or semi-skilled labor, while being

placed on nearly flat land anywhere in the world.

These systems are very scalable, easy to implement and a universally valuable solution to food

production. It is a carefully designed mini-ecosystem under a roof that can produce large

amounts of food year round, averaging 9,000k (20,000 pounds) of fish and 70,000 to 200,000

vegetables per 1,000m2 site. These systems can be quickly built in densely populated urban

areas, orphanages, hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and areas stricken by severe drought or

major natural disasters. PFAS LLC can assist in setting up on-site operations within two weeks

and harvesting the first crop of a permanent supply of vegetables in 4 to 6 weeks after that,

regardless of the climate or soil conditions.

The PFAS Installations are ideal for areas of urban renewal. They create local jobs and a supply

of locally grown food. Because the structures are normally classified as non-permanent (no

poured footer), they can be built as a temporary structure on a leased property. There is no

toxic waste water disposal requirement and solar energy can be used instead of being

connected to the electricity grid or the local utilities, because all the energy can be generated

on-site and rainwater can be used in many cases for the water supply.

The most robust, most scalable aquaponics system in the world is the Portable Farms®

Aquaponics System. The technology is proprietary and has already drawn interest from some

of the leaders in the food production industry.

http://portablefarms.com/2013/endorsement-for-portable-farms-from-the-country-license-holder-in-botswana-africa/

29




BUSINESS STRUCTURE

The PFAS Technology Package comes with a large number of benefits including on-site training

for the construction crews, online and on the job training for the Operators, updated

technology developments as they become available, the right to build installations for other

investors or buyers within a designated territory (after successfully operating a commercial

PFAS Unit for at least one year) as a major source of revenue, the sale of new installations often

includes a service and operations contract that adds to the income stream and creates

additional jobs. These additional revenues add to the profits and can be used to fund further

expansion.

The standard commercial PFAS Unit of 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) consists of 30 growing

Modules, with each Grow Table having its own 1500 liter (400 gallon) fish tank. This is a

very different design from the conventional approach of having on single, very large fish

tank in a commercial facility. In fact, the pumps and design used in the commercial PFAS

facilities are exactly the same as the ones in the family sized units, except the

commercial units have 30 Modules lined up side-by-side to limit any impact of single

point of failure.

With the PFAS Technology Program, one crew of 4 full-time workers can build 30 PFAS

Modules in less than a week once the climatically adapted greenhouse structure is

nearly finished. The entire commercial unit can be completed within 2 to 4 weeks and 4

to 6 weeks later the operators can be harvesting a wide variety of lettuces, kale, Asian

greens such as bok choy, and most green leafy plants such as Swiss chard, basil, many

herbs, and more. Then, 10 to 12 weeks later, the harvesting of tomatoes, cucumbers,

zucchini, all varieties of peppers, green beans, peas, kohlrabi, and broccoli can begin.

Please note, in order to grow blooming plants in winter months (October to April in the

Northern Hemisphere) within an acclimatized greenhouse with short days and low levels

of sunlight, grow lights must be installed above the grow trays for the plants to ‘blossom

and set’ to produce food.

Economies of scale set in quickly lowering the construction costs of each unit as the

Program progresses. A single 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) facility can produce over 80,000

tomatoes per year. However, with a higher level of investment ($1 million) the reduced

cost per Unit quickly demonstrates the economies of scale driving the cost per Unit

down to the point that three to four 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) commercial facilities can be

30




built with the US$1.3M and giving permanent employment to 20 people while growing

800,000 plus of tomatoes per year (as an example), all this in the very first year of

production.

As stated earlier in this report on Page 4, by selling a large portion of the vegetables and fish

grown in Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) to the local high end markets, the

installations can become self-sustaining.

The target markets in nearly every instance will be one or more of the following:

1) High-end Restaurants & Hotels

2) Casinos – The very best buyers because their clients demand the best food

3) Hospitals and Assisted Living Centers

4) Prisons and institutions

5) Specialty Food Markets & Organic Grocery Stores

The first tier of customers is high-end restaurants, casino and hotels who pay a premium for

locally grown, pesticide-free produce. The ability to deliver boxes of freshly harvested, locally

grown, vine-ripened produce and pounds of the freshest locally grown fish every single week,

year round is a very compelling offer. No one can compete with that, not even a major food

services type wholesale distributor.

The second tier customers are hospitals and assisted living centers that normally pay nearly full

price. The third tier are prisons and institutions that often have labor available and nearly

always go for the most affordable food they can buy. This market is enormous but needs a

slightly different approach. The fourth tier of customers are the specialty food markets like

Whole Foods and Fresh Market plus the general grocery stores that pay wholesale prices,

although organic wholesale still demands a 25% to 40% premium over conventional wholesale.

Concerning selling the fish, in most cities, there is a demand from local ethnic restaurants who

will buy them ‘whole,’ and sometimes ‘live and still swimming.’ The same markets noted above

will buy the fish if it can be processed. This adds more jobs and adds a revenue stream to the

project.

31




This food distribution model plan has been carefully designed to work in the urban settings of

both developed nations and developing nations, ensuring an excellent return for investors. The

time to break-even on each unit depends upon the vegetables and fish produced, but it is

anticipated that an average three to five year ROI is normal.

A 3m x 4.5m (10’ x 16’) Portable Farms installation

The backyard Units (smaller Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems) are not as cost effective

because the cost of building the greenhouse is difficult to offset with productivity from only one

or two Grow Tray Tables. However, efficiency is achieved at the 300m2 (3,000 sq ft) size facility

and higher. These smaller facilities can be built for community groups who desire a highly

efficient year-round community garden.

Due to the cookie-cutter, modular nature of the PFAS approach, the operations can be scaled

up very quickly. The only real bottlenecks are the start-up financing for the initial construction

costs, securing suitable land and the speed of training the new project managers.

The goal of the Locally Grown Food & Jobs Creation Program (LGF-JCP) is to establish a

decentralized, distributed food production model. The break-even point on the commercial

facilities is reached very quickly and with ongoing demand for high-quality food, the program

can weather most problems and downturns.

With the Commercial PFAS Units, production typically increases by 20% after the first year

because the Grow Tables have “cured” i.e. and the beneficial bacteria that convert the nitrates

into nitrites are at their optimum levels and all the planting and harvesting cycles have been

established. The projections below are based on the minimum productivity levels. The Revenue

Projections are based on actual operating experience over the past 4 to 5 years (the lowest

possible output from the PFAS Module for each crop is shown. The actual output from each

Module can, and probably will be, from two to four times as high, so these numbers are

extremely conservative).

32




Please see Exhibit A which covers the Capital and Operating Expenses and the Revenue

figures which are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of September 2015.

Investment Packages

Using the figure demonstrated above here are the various level of investment and the expected

ROI on each:

A US$285,000 to US$325,000 investment will purchase a PFAS Commercial Package for

one full-size unit complete and operational. NOT INCLUDING LAND COST or GROW

LIGHTS. This is a turnkey price and includes all the on-site training for the assembly of

the Modules and the training of the operators. The ROI on the first Unit is normally

between two and three years. The second and subsequent Units cost significantly less,

in the range of US$235,000 to US$250,000 each. By the time the third or fourth Unit

comes on line, the cost may be down to slightly less than US$210,000 each. That makes

the ROI on these later Units closer to two years.

A US$1.3M investment will purchase an Expanded PFAS Commercial Package (one

acre/.45 hectare) and have the first three to four full-size Units operational. This is a

turnkey price and includes all the on-site training of the assembly of the modules and

the training of the operators. The subsequent installations can be built from the income

derived from the output of the first several units. This will employ 12 to 20 people in

permanent jobs. That makes the ROI on all Units around three to five years.

A US$10M investment will purchase the Expanded PFAS Commercial Package covering

up to 30 to 32 full-size units complete and operational. This is a turnkey price and

includes all the on-site training of the assembly of the modules and the training of the

operators. The subsequent installation can be built from the income derived from the

output from the first ten or so units. This will employ 100 to 130 people in permanent

jobs. That makes the ROI on individual Units less than two years and creates ongoing

revenue streams from the sale and building of Units for other investors or organizations.

33




A US$50M investment usually covers several different territories/areas/cities under the

same investment in the Expanded PFAS Commercial Package and in some cases covering

an entire country. Each of these larger Expanded PFAS Commercial Package receives the

benefits of the single Expanded PFAS Commercial Package in having the training and

building of the first modules. This size investment will employ 600 to 1000 people in

permanent jobs. The ROI on individual Units is less than two years and a wide variety of

higher level position have been created to run a larger organization.

34




PFAS LLC Project Management Assistance Services available:

PFAS LLC offers Project Management Assistance Services for your commercial ventures. Our

team of professionals offers services from site selection all the way through start-up and

training of operations personnel.

PLEASE NOTE: PFAS LLC will work with your project management team. However PFAS

LLC does NOT offer turn-key installations on our own, nor do we offer project

management services. The TURN-KEY quotes are totals with the PFAS LLC portion

representing about 20% of that total.

Our first consideration is to determine your goals and objectives. Whether this is your first-time

commercial venture into Aquaponics, or you have an existing food production operation

wishing to upgrade to aquaponics, PFAS LLC’s experts are available to help attain those goals.

The minimum project size available for this program is for building a 1,000m2 (10,000 sq. ft.)

installation containing 30 aquaponics modules.

Consulting fees: Our consultants are available to advise on any level you may require. The fees

start at US$250 per hour or US$1,200 per day plus travel and expenses. The minimum retainer

is US$20,000.

Contact PFAS LLC to receive more information about your chosen level of investment.

Appendix A: Yield Calculations, page 35.

Exhibit A: Spread Sheet for Expenses and Production Results, page 40.

Sincerely,

Colle Davis, Inventor, Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems

CEO, PFAS LLC

Director of Aquaponics University

239-829-5526

[email protected]

http://portablefarm.com/farm/



35




Appendix A: Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems’ Yield Results

Two different methods were used to calculate expected yields and compute the ROI and profitability in the commercial size 1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) PFAS Units.

The first method used in calculating production figures for lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini and basil

was derived from the actual production observed in the 6m x 9m (20’ x 30’) PFAS UNIT at the

Research Center in Escondido, California, USA, over a three-year period. The yields

approximated the aquaponics yields noted in reference literature and in the cases where the

yields were slightly higher (at the Research Center); figures were lowered to be similar to those

achieved in other systems.

The PFAS installation cited was the fourth production farm, and many of the initial design and

logistics problems had been worked out by then, so it represented the state of the art at the

time. PFAS LLC has continued to refine the systems, and the yields have improved slightly due

to more consistent production output.

The second set of figures were derived from University field trials from various Agricultural

Colleges in the United States for greenhouse production of ground grown plants. In each case,

we lowered our estimates to match their lower range of production.

The use of two sets of yield figures derived from two very different sources in publishing our

yields is very different from the normal practice of noting the range of yields and focusing on

higher figures from the best yielding situations. The figures used in the ROI computation are

based on observed yields over a broad range of growing conditions and in all cases the middle

to lower range was quoted and used to arrive at the stated amounts of product per Unit.

36




The additional initial capital investment and operating expense of increased electrical power for

the use of Grow Lights is offset by the increased variety and production that includes growing

and selling of blooming plants. The ROI of the installation remains approximately 3 to 5 years

even with additional capital costs and operating expenses for the use of Grow Lights.

For example: In planting Romaine lettuce we found that a spacing of 20cm to 23cm (8” to 9”)

apart as measured from center of the plant, as well as using offset rows, yielded the greatest

growth rate and the quickest harvest times. A second interstitial planting can also be done four

weeks from harvest if carefully executed to effectively increase overall yield a full 40%. We do

not include this type of enhancements to the yield figures. Skilled operators will use this and

other methods to enhance production output and profitability because the fish are producing

more than enough nutrients to support this higher density planting.

Mineral Rock Dust – Organic Additive for Micro and Macro Elements

The cultivation of blooming plants presents a dilemma

because these plants need more nutrients than the fish waste

can provide which provides ample nitrogen but lacks in

micronutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium and

potassium. Greens grow exceptionally well using only the fish

waste, but blooming plants need more micronutrients to

support the blooming and fruit formation. The addition of a

very small amount of organic mineral rock dust is added to

the seed-starting medium, and an occasional one tablespoon

addition to the fish tank is all that is required. This means that

a 22kg (50lb) bag of the mineral rock dust will last more than a full year for an installation of

1,000m2 (10,000 sq ft) in full production of blooming plants. The mineral rock dust is very

inexpensive and can be stored indefinitely in the sealed bags.

Mineral rock dust does NOT contain nitrogen that is already being generously supplied by the fish waste from the fish in the fish tank(s) so the combination of the freshly produced nitrogen from the fish waste and the many macro and micro mineral elements in the mineral rock dust provides the perfect combination for growing healthy plants in aquaponics systems.

The mineral rock dust that we recommend is an amendment or addition to a system that is

safe and effective to use in all types of aquaponics systems (medium base or raft systems).

The pristine mineral product is certified organic (USDA in the state of California) and is 100%

natural. PFAS LLC has used and recommended mineral rock dust for four years and

37




experienced excellent yield results. These minerals are vital to growing both green plants

and blooming plants in every stage of growth: Seed planting, root development, plant

growth, plant health and plant blossoming. The use of this mineral rock dust produces

plants that are healthy during every stage of growth and development. This product is also

environmentally friendly and does not pollute nor does it ‘burn’ plants.

Colle Davis, Lead inventor Portable Farms® Aquaponics Systems standing in front of a Grow Table with tomatoes

growing behind him. Please note the trellises that allow vertical growing to maximize grow space.

Tomatoes present an interesting opportunity because of two factors: The first is that all

tomatoes must be staked or trellised (vertical growing) to maximize yield. This keeps the plants

upright and allows the utilization of the entire column of growing space from the Grow Table’s

surface to the area 2m (6 feet) or more above the Grow Tables. Trellising can be seen as a type

of natural vertical gardening. Trellising also makes harvesting much easier because the fruit is

more readily accessible. Pollination is also easier due to the open access to the blossoms.

Circulating fans are very effective in the pollination of most plants and reducing the humidity

and heat when the plants’ blossoms are opened up on trellises.

To successfully grow tomatoes and other blooming plants (peppers, cucumbers, beans, etc.)

year round requires the use of Grow Lights suspended above the Grow Tables in a climatically

adapted environment. The investment in the Grow Lights and electricity for the purpose of

growing blooming plants is offset by the increases in both variety and production.

One of the challenges with tomatoes is to determine how long to leave the plants in the gravel

before removing them and replanting in the same spot in the gravel. The recommended spacing

on tomatoes is 30cm (12 inches) and not to offset the rows for maximum outreach of the

plant’s growth. Our research discovered that the plants begin to produce tomatoes at 81 – 89

http://portablefarm.com/farm/2012/aquaponics-tomatoe/

38




days (depending on conditions) but after approximately six to eight months of growing in the

gravel, the tomato plants develop such a large root ball (the size of a football) that they began

to impede the effective flow of water through the Grow Tables. This is especially true when a

Grow Table was planted with only tomatoes. This root ball’s large sized necessitates the

removal of the mature tomato plant after the sixth to the eighth month. The immature

tomatoes can be harvested before the plants are removed to add to the overall production. The

gravel in the area is then cleared of root fragments, and a new plant is immediately placed in

the same spot. This process is thoroughly and carefully covered in the Operations Manual©

provided with each installation.

The recommended spacing for basil is 18cm to 21cm (7 or 8 inches) between plants with offset

rows. This spacing allows for over 450 plants to occupy each 18.6m2 (200 sq ft) tray. This is

possible because the root system of basil is short and does not create a ‘large root ball’ under

the gravel. By harvesting four cuttings per plant on a monthly basis, the plants will continue to

produce over a five to six month period and will require only two plantings per year. For whole

plant basil the planting can be even closer together, 15cm to 18cm (6 to 7 inches) apart and five

plantings per year will be possible because the plants are pulled out for harvest instead of

clipped off. The harvesting and replanting into the same space is the normal practice to

maximize production.

The most surprising result of the research is that basil, touted as one of the most valuable of

the high-cash crops, was displaced by the shortest ROI crown by cucumbers. We computed the

cucumber numbers four times including the actual output from a current PFAS installation to

make sure we had not done some part of the calculation incorrectly. Our own results with

cucumbers and basil in the same Grow Tables at our Research Center in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco,

Mexico, verified the University Agricultural Stations yields as being well within range of

expected aquaponics production.

Using the lowest yield with the shortest harvest season and three crops per space per year the

Return On Investment will be approximately 8 months [38kg (85 lbs.) x 52 weeks = 4,220 lbs

(1,900kg) of cucumbers per year per module] and priced at $2.25 per pound = US$9,945]. In

most cases, this production number will be much higher and will continue to rise as the

operators become more skilled and the system matures.

http://portablefarm.com/farm/2012/cucumbers/

39




The above numbers are based on the lowest expected yields from greenhouse grown crops, use

the shortest possible harvest time plus the longest time from transplant to finish harvest. In

other words, the lowest possible output from the Module for this crop is shown. The actual

output from each Module can and probably will be from two to four times as high resulting in a

much shorter ROI.

With more and more installations being built in different locations, screened roof vents, the use

of movable shade cloth, carefully-followed harvesting schedules, and noting local weather

conditions, the production yields will more accurately be reflected for each type of climate and

the operator’s level of experience. Every installation will function and produce differently, and

yet the yields will meet or exceed the stated output.

The figures noted in the ROI do NOT reflect land lease/acquisition costs. They do however

include labor, seeds, planting medium, fish, water, the use of grow lights in winter months, and

electricity. By initially marketing to the high-end restaurants, markets, and resort hotels, the

ROI will remain high as the increased produce begins to be directed at the lower end markets

because of the volume being produced. Additionally, the yields will increase approximately

20% the second year as the system ‘cures’ and becomes more stable. Third and subsequent

years can see increases due to operator efficiencies.

40




Exhibit A - Spread Sheet for Expenses and Production Results

Documents

Executive Summary for Commercial Aquaponics From PFAS LLC ...portablefarms.com/thank/UNEUReport.pdf · ©2015 Colle Davis. CEO, PFAS LLC ... (LGF-JCP) Report Created for the United