Nuponix was formed in 2019 based on decades of collected experience at the forefront of the aquaponics field. The Nuponix team’s experience begins in the late seventies—when Dr. James Rakocy created the first viable aquaponics system—to through the 2000s, when Chris Kiser’s Maui aquaponics became one of the largest commercial vegetable producing aquaponics facilities in the country.
Maui Aquaponics at the time it was constructed in 2010 was the largest aquaponic facility operating in the US. Of course aquaponics has come a long way since then with facilities many times larger in scale now in operation, but we were one of the pioneers in the space. The facility produced 500lbs of high quality tilapia weekly along with 500lbs of fresh high end spring mix baby lettuce weekly. This was achieved with a staff of 5 and a deep trough growing area of approx 10,000ft2. The first commercial scale tilapia hatchery in Hawaii was also built to support the fish fingerling needs of the facility as there was no local supply of tilapia on that scale.
Aquaponics is a combination of two fields: aquaculture and hydroponics. Conventional aquaculture deals with the raising of aquatic animals (such as fish, snails, crayfish, or prawns) in water tanks. Hydroponics is the practice of cultivating plants in water rather than soil.
In normal aquaculture, excretions from the animals being raised will accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity. This waste material must be filtered out of the water tanks to maintain a healthy environment for the aquatic animals. In a typical hydroponic system, nutrients must be added to the water to provide the nutrition the plant normally would have received from the soil. Aquaponics combines these two fields to produce a system in which each side of the process facilitates the other.
In an aquaponic system, the waste water from an aquaculture facility is fed to a hydroponic installation, where the excretions are broken down by converting bacteria into nitrates that are utilized by the plants as nutrients, thereby removing them from the water. The now-clean water is then recirculated back to the aquaculture facility, creating a symbiotic environment which benefits both the aquatic animals and the plants being cultivated.
The North American legal cannabis market is rapidly growing, as more and more states adopt legalized cannabis. Today, 13 states have legalized recreational cannabis use, with 33 states allowing medical THC. Legalized cannabis use is expanding rapidly, with multiple states (including New York) expected to legalize recreational cannabis by 2021. With increasing budget deficits, states are seeing the tax income generated by states which have legalized cannabis use, and are fast-tracking their own legalization across the US; many expect federal legalization of cannabis to occur by 2025.
Nuponix has developed a social development program to advance our local communities using the technology that we have developed. Nuponix proudly supports Oko Farms. The mission of Oko Farms is to practice and promote aquaponics as a sustainable farming method that mitigates the impact of climate change, and increases food security for New York City
Spread the knowledge and skills required to practice aquaponics farming by educating children and adults of all racial and socio-economic backgrounds.
Nuponix has dedicated a percentage of all sales to fund the Nuponix Institute, to build and maintain educational and food-production facilities in underserved neighborhoods. These facilities will serve as community centers that utilize aquaponics to turn food deserts into vegetable gardens and fish farms.
One Love Community Fridge works to connect, empower & engage the community through education and providing access to fresh, healthy food with no stigma.
At Nuponix, we have assembled an outstanding team, who are skilled at aquaculture, cannabis, sustainability, and business.
Nuponix works with local Colleges and Universities to conduct research on aquaponic cultivation to advance the science and viability of the industry.
Thank you for your interest in our website & our services. If you have any questions, please write us a message now!
