Company Overview
W2 Group is a business and market development consulting firm offering proven performance in creating profitable partnering relationships and generating value-added, actionable business intelligence. We assist clients in creating and managing strategic relationships and alliances with other organizations including startups to multinational companies, research institutions and government agencies. Our focus is engaging with companies that provide sustainable products and technologies and view sustainability as a way to drive revenue!
Symbiotic Aquaponic LLC strives to make aquaponics accessible to all by empowering individuals, families, producers, and communities with the skills, resources, knowledge, and support they need to implement aquaponics for their benefit and the greater good of society. Our vision is to build healthier individuals, families and communities through the implementation of smart and sustainable aquaponics agriculture.
Current Products & Services
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20 square foot filter-less aquaponics system kit
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20 square foot aquaponics system kit
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40 square foot aquaponics system kit
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80 square foot aquaponics system kit
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Integrated 40 square foot greenhouse systems
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Aquaponics turn-key builds and installation
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Commercial aquaponics system design and installation
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Grow media aggregate
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System components: grow beds, bell siphons, filtration systems
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Educational classes and workshops (community-based and private)
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Aquaponics consulting service
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System maintenance contracts
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STEM curriculum
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Organic Certification Plan for aquaponics
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Native Earth Organic Produce
Forthcoming Products & Services
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Automated water quality testing hardware and application
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Subscription fish food
Established:
June 2012
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 363, Talihina, Oklahoma 74571
Commercial Greenhouse Address:
Eastern Oklahoma State College, 1301 West Main Street, Wilburton, Oklahoma 74578
Awards and Recognition:
Hitachi Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs – 2013
Oklahoma State Regents Business Partnership Excellence Aware – 2016
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Top 25 Native American STEM Enterprises – 2017
What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is the agricultural practice of growing plants and fish in a closed, recirculating ecosystem. It combines foundational elements of hydroponic agriculture with aquaculture farming.
Like hydroponics, aquaponics agriculture grows plants without the use of soil. This is possible because soil is not a necessary component for growing plants.
In traditional, soil-based agriculture, the soil acts as reservoir for the nutrients required by plants to grow. Aquaculture is a farming method used to raise aquatic species. This is done in a controlled water environment, such as large tanks, confined pools, and human-controlled, confined spaces in natural bodies of water. A variety of aquatic creatures that include fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and plants may be raised and harvested in these environments.
Growing Demand
Up until the late 1970s, the application of aquaponics was limited due to knowledge, technology and proximity to large bodies of water. Thankfully, with a growth in knowledge and technological innovations, aquaponics can be driven by consumer’s increased attention to sustainable practices, healthy living and demand for organic and non-GMO products. Consumption of organic products is particularly significant, accounting for growing market share of retail sales annually since 2000. Between 2016 and 2017, organic sales increased 8.9 percent. Furthermore, a heightened concern for water and soil conservation has gained traction due to the frequency of droughts, climate change, and environmental forecasting.
The implementation of sustainable agriculture programs in post-secondary institutions and universities provides ample evidence of the public’s growing interest. In addition, the movement for local consumption, based in both environmental and health concerns, has fueled a resurgence of backyard gardening and localized commercial production.
Changing the Game
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Waist-high aquaponics gardening eliminates weeds, back strain, and small animal access to your garden.
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Aquaponics relies on the recycling of nutrient-rich water continuously. In aquaponics, there is no run-off from either hydroponics or aquaculture.
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Aquaponics uses only 1/10 the water of soil-based gardening and even less water than hydroponics or recirculating aquaculture.
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No harmful petrochemicals, pesticides or herbicides can be used. It’s a natural ecosystem!
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Gardening chores are cut down dramatically or eliminated. The aquaponics grower is able to focus on the enjoyable tasks of feeding the fish and tending to and harvesting the plants.
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Aquaponics systems can be put anywhere. You can use them outside, in a greenhouse, in your basement or in your living room! By using grow-lighting, you can turn any space into a productive garden.
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Aquaponics systems are scalable! They can fit most sizes and budgets, from small countertop herb systems to backyard gardens to full-scale farms, aquaponics can do it all.
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And the best part – You get to harvest both plants and fish from your garden. Truly raise your entire meal in your backyard.
Market Summary
The implementation of sustainable agriculture programs in post-secondary institutions and universities provides ample evidence of the public’s growing interest. In addition, the movement for local consumption, based in both environmental and health concerns, has fueled a resurgence of backyard gardening and localized commercial production.
Private & Individual Sector
Across the United States, data indicates an increased participation in gardening, particularly among millennials, showing an important “buy-in” by this specific population which now represents approximately 30 percent of gardeners. With nearly $ 48 billion in sales in 2016, the private individual household is an important market for backyard aquaponics systems. This is especially true as urban gardening and container gardening are increasing. Data also indicates that a portion of the individual marketplace is gardening or interested in gardening cannabis.
Commercial Sector
The use of aquaponics by commercial growers is increasing. Increased crop production, higher yields, reduced labor costs, added value outputs (such as fish and fish waste) and reduced water consumption are intrinsically valuable to commercial success. Attention to local and regional consumer consumption behavior has amplified demand of local produce by community markets and restaurants, small retailers and large chains alike. Wholes Foods, Natural Grocers, HEB, Chipotle, Sprouts and even Walmart have initiatives committed to sourcing local produce. This increased local sourcing has increased the viability of the small commercial farmer among the agricultural industry giants.
Nonprofit Sector
Nonprofits range in their purposes and thusly so their use of aquaponics. Direct experience and reports show that aquaponics is being used in the nonprofit sector for various social and educational purposes. Providing food to and within marginalized populations and in food deserts is a primary goal of using aquaponics by the nonprofit sector. Food can be grown and distributed to local facilities and individuals. Additionally, nonprofits are using aquaponics to germinate, propagate, and distribute plants to individuals. Aside from food production, nonprofits are embracing aquaponics in rehabilitation services, technical/career training and educational purposes.
Academic
Academic communities have adopted aquaponics into their research and classrooms. Universities and colleges are conducting research while integrating aquaponics into in-demand curriculum of sustainable agriculture and environmental science programs as well as a number of other foundational science courses as zoology, biology, botany and horticulture. Primary and secondary schools are also increasing their use of aquaponics, following the lead of higher education institutions. STEM classes, farm-to-school cafeteria offerings, FFA programs, nutrition classes, after-school clubs and so forth are all areas within schools that benefit from aquaponics. Schools have also adopted aquaponics for fundraising purposes, growing plants and fish to sell to the community and individual buyers. Technical and vocational schools are implementing aquaponics into curriculum as for job training as well.
Target Markets
Currently, Symbiotic Aquaponic has provided numerous aquaponics systems in various states across the nation. These systems were installed across all sectors of the industry for numerous purposes. The company has also had particular success within the American Indian community, providing both systems for personal and tribal uses.
Reasons for purchasing aquaponics systems as cited by Symbiotic Aquaponic customers:
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Personal and socially-oriented food production
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Natural and organic food production
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Commercial food production
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Sustainable and environmentally-friendly agriculture
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Decreased water consumption and reliance; drought-friendly
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Academic research
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STEM curriculum and educational tool
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Educational tool for technical and career training
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Enjoyment of gardening and growing plants
Aquaponics & Traditional Agriculture Cultivation Comparisons
Aquaponics provides a number of crop yield benefits as compared to traditional agriculture. Traditional agriculture is used to refer to soil-based growing methods. Due to increased access to nutrients in an aquaponics system, many plants germinate faster, maybe more densely planted, can be propagated, and more frequently harvested. In addition, water consumption is significantly lower with high estimates of consumption in a 40-square-foot system being 3 gallons per day. Electricity usage is minimal at the 2.2 amps required for the pump and filter.
**Monitoring and recording conducted in a mature, 1000-square-foot, grow-media system under greenhouse conditions
Product Distinctions & Advantages in the Marketplace
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Provides a unique versatility of use for both soil replacement/grow media or deep water culture/floating raft aquaponics applications (separately or simultaneously) and is suitable for vertical stacking modifications.
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Modular design enables east and efficient expansion or reduction of grow space. This design allows for a system to convert to 20, 60, 80 or larger square-foot systems.
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Inclusion of bead-filtration minimizes system maintenance labor. It also provides for grow-media system operation.
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Direct-sow and propagation in grow media systems.
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Industrial standard manufacturing of components provides an unparalleled commercial quality built for long-term use.
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Efficient food production in minimal space.
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Average water usage between 1-3 gallons per day.
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5-year limited warranty on parts with 30 year lifetime
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1-year system warranty
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Easy to deconstruct and re-assemble
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No power tools or specialty required for assembly. Full system can be put together with a 5/16” wrench or Phillips-head screwdriver.
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Approved for use in Certified Organic production
The 40-square-foot backyard aquaponics system is perfect for your backyard. Easy to assemble, you’ll be ready to start growing and harvesting sooner than you think! Comes pre-plumbed and includes all necessary parts for the system including a pump and filter. Just add grow media, water, fish and plants to get growing! Easily expandable for commercial use.
