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INVESTIGATOR: Wang, H.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
1680 MADISON AVENUE
WOOSTER, OHIO 44691

AQUACULTURE BOOT CAMP - 2: ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF NEW AND LIMITED RESOURCE AQUACULTURE/AQUAPONIC FARMERS WITH INNOVATIVE TRAINING

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Aquaculture Boot Camp (ABC) with "3I-level" training model was an extremely successfulprogram. By the end of the ABC-1 project, twenty-four new businesses/farms were created by the2013 and 2014 ABC Intensive course graduates. We plan to enhance sustainability of new andlimited resource aquaculture/aquaponic farmers in the Midwest through development and deliveryof a Phase 2 Aquaculture Boot Camp (ABC), and partnerships and collaborations of fourNGOs/CBOs/SAEOs, six aqua-farms and three agricultural colleges, led by the Ohio StateUniversity (OSU) and two CBOs/SAEOs with expertise in new and beginning farmer training andoutreach.Specific goals include: 1) Provide tools for new and limited resource farmers to enhance theiraquaculture/aquaponic production success by developing and delivering production curriculum andhands-on practices, 2) Enhance the financial viability and business success of beginningaquaculture/aquaponic farmers by delivering business management and marketing strategies, and 3)Strengthen the success of new aquaculture/aquaponic and limited resource farmers through theABC mentorship and partnership with the industry via OAA, WAA/NPI and other partners.The ABC project will serve the following Target Audience:• Beginning and new (less than 10 years of experience) aquaculture/aquaponic farmers.• Limited resource beginning aquaculture farmers; most of aqua-farmers have low levels offarm sales and low household income, as most of them are new and located in rural areas.• Next generation farmers: students and those without a family farming history.• Other new farmers attempting to diversify their existing farming enterprise.By the end of the project, we expect to achieve the following major outcomes:90 new/beginning and limited resource farmers (30/yr) will gain aquaculture/aquaponics production, business and marketing awareness and understanding, gain new perspectives, learn and practice skills, and aspire to be more successful after completing ABC-2 Intensive.40 students/next generation farmers in vocational/high school trained through a school-based aquaculture/aquaponic project and ABC-2 Intensive.100 new/beginning and limited resource farmers will gain knowledge of aquaculture/aquaponics production, business and marketing strategies, and learn new skills by participating in ABC-2 Intermediate classes.300 new/beginning and limited resource farmers (100/yr) will gain knowledge of aquaculture/aquaponics production and new technologies by participating in ABC-2 Intermediate workshops and bus tours.1,000 participants will gain new knowledge by accessing ABC Introductory and coordinating ABC website tools and information.

OBJECTIVES: Goal 1 - Provide advanced toolkits for new/beginning and limited resource farmers to enhance their aquaculture/aquaponic production success by developing and delivering production curriculum and hands-on practices.Objective 1-1: Develop/modify 12 curriculum modules and an accompanying manual in aquaculture/aquaponic production and management strategies for ABC-2 training programs needed by new/beginning and limited resource farmersObjective 1-2: Deliver intensive classroom courses and on-farm practice to 90 new aquaculture/aquaponic farmers through three, one-year-long ABC-2 Intensive programs.Objective 1-3: Provide extensive classroom courses and on-farm practice mentoring to an additional 500 new and limited resource aqua-farmers through ABC-2 Intermediate.Objective 1-4: Provide support and training to all the target audiences through ABC-2 Introductory tools.Goal 2 - Enhance the financial viability and business sustainability of beginning aquaculture/aquaponic and limited resource farmers by delivering marketing strategies and business management.Objective 2-1: In conjunction with Objective 1-1, develop and deliver curriculum modules and accompanying manuals in aquaculture/aquaponic business and marketing strategies to the ABC-2 Intensive and ABC-2 Intermediate audiences.Objective 2-2: Deliver four additional annual complementary business and marketing workshop/trainings to ABC-2 Intermediate.Objective 2-3: Provide support and training in the areas of business and marketing strategies to the target audience through ABC-2 Introductory.Goal 3 - Strengthen success of new and beginning aquaculture/aquaponic and limited resource farmers through the ABC mentorship and partnership with the industry via the OAA, WAA/NPI, and other partners.Objective 3-1: Establish an Aquaculture Internship Program through OAA, and WAA/NPI to mentor new and beginning fish farmers in Ohio and Wisconsin.Objective 3-2: Provide mentoring leadership and guidance for new aquaculture farmers through OAA, WAA/NPI, and other partners.