Milwaukee recognized for urban farms, aquaponics in IBM report

1901 poster declares “Milwaukee Feeds and Supplies the World”.

International team recognizes Milwaukee’s ‘high potential’ to improve access to healthy food, revitalize neighborhoods and create jobs

By Karen Herzog
Journal Sentinel
Sept. 19, 2011

Excerpts:

Milwaukee could become more economically viable and help the world feed itself through urban agriculture and aquaponics – water-efficient systems that can transform abandoned factories and vacant lots into urban farms that raise fish and vegetables, a report released Monday says.

Milwaukee already has the base investment and model to improve access to healthy food while revitalizing neighborhoods and creating jobs, says the report, which lays out a game plan for the city to take urban food production to the next level.

The IBM team recommends that the city:

Form an Urban Agriculture and Aquaponics Council, based on the successful model of the Milwaukee Water Council. The new council would advance science and business success through sharing of knowledge, innovation and technology by for-profit, nonprofit and public sector stakeholders.

Establish an Aquaponics Innovation Center to help area universities and K-12 schools transfer technology and develop skills. The center also would evaluate new aquaponics technologies and help develop aquaponics businesses by analyzing best practices and economic impact.

Do a market analysis of aquaponics production, supply chain expansion and market opportunity to guide industry expansion.

Expand the city’s Office of Environmental Sustainability to advocate urban agriculture and aquaponics.

Read the complete article here.

See the IBM Report here.