| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.18 |
| Liaison | Ryan Todd |
| Submission Date | May 9, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
California State University, Sacramento
IN-2: Innovation 2
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
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Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Aquaponics
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A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Project title: Multi-Trophic, Sustainable, System for Food Waste Conversion and Production of Quality Food.
The conceptual goal was to build and operate a food waste to good-food system that demonstrates key waste management issues, ecological principles (trophic levels, nitrogen cycle, etc.), and nutrition concepts. The system uses aquaponics, the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, combined with earthworm and insect processing of the food wastes to produce protein as a substantial component of the fish food, typically one of the most costly and ecologically damaging inputs to fish production. This goal provides an academic context for addressing the full range of issues about sustainability.The practical goal is to develop a pilot-scale system to demonstrate how all the campus food waste can be processed. There have been efforts at composting in the past, but there were concerns about odors, food safety, and the low economic value of the products. The academic value of this goal is in linking theoretical issues in sustainability with practical, institutional issues and daily experiences that provide immediate learning opportunities.
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A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
The project started in Fall 2013 and is supporting an upper-division 25 person class in the department dealing with urban agriculture.
Two local high schools (Luther Burbank and Elk Grove) have made contact with us and sought our assistance in establishing their own high school projects.
We have received conceptual and political support from the California Endowment as it relates to its initiatives relating to health issues in low income communities and food deserts.
This project has established faculty relationships in the following academic departments: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences—Nutrition), and Sociology. By getting food waste from the Day Care Center, we are creating opportunities for very young kids to see and learn about the system and about sustainability principles. We are working with the Office of Water Programs on water quality issues.
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A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
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Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
| Yes or No | |
| Curriculum | Yes |
| Research | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | Yes |
| Public Engagement | --- |
| Air & Climate | --- |
| Buildings | --- |
| Dining Services | --- |
| Energy | --- |
| Grounds | --- |
| Purchasing | --- |
| Transportation | --- |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
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Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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