Regional News of Tuesday, 16 October 2012

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Golden Sunbeam International College of Science & Technology - Ghana

Aquaponics Educational Experimental Project
The Solar Garden – Israel

Golden Sunbeam International College of Science & Technology - Ghana

In an effort to bring innovative and sustainable technologies to the Ghanaian people, The Solar Garden from Israel has completed its first Educational Experimental Aquaponics System on the grounds of Golden Sunbeam International College of Science and Technology, located in Ayikuma (about 40 minutes drive north of Accra). The system will be used by students and staff to learn about aquaponics while conducting experiments with various vegetables and fish. Both organizations share a similar dream: giving the generation to come the tools to make a change, leading the way to a more efficient and less polluting agriculture in Ghana.
Introducing an alternative farming method, Aquaponics fish and plant systems have proven as one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways to grow food, fish and vegetables. The
The co-operation between Golden Sunbeam and The Solar Garden was made possible, thanks to the Israeli Embassy for linking the two organizations. Mr. Yaniv Fieldust, Founder and CEO of The Solar Garden in Israel, personally flew in to Ghana to manage the assembly of this first project.
Founded in 2009, The Solar Garden is an idealistic project, working in collaboration with over fifty Israeli companies and organizations, raising awareness about responsible use of resources, while introducing viable sustainable solutions.
“Aquaponics systems can be adapted for use as a small scale, home growing system, as well as in large commercial scale farms”, says Mr. Fieldust. “As most technologies showcased at The Solar Garden, this system has both environmental and economic benefits. Aquaponics can be used not only in villages, but also in urban communities.”
How does an Aquaponics system work?
The basic system consists of two elements linked together by a network of pipes - a unit containing the fish, such as a fish tank, and a unit containing the plants, such as planting beds. Water rich with nutrients is circulated from the fish tank into the planting bed, in which vegetables are planted.
Living in the water, the fish supply a steady flow of nutrients to the plants. The plants, in return, consume the nutrients, thus filtering the water which then returns clean to the fish tank. The amount of plants corresponds with the number of fish in the water basin.
In addition to the freedom of growing vegetables without the need of land or soil, aquaponics systems allow plants to grow twice as fast because they are receiving a steady flow of nutrients. The plants grow using 80% less water.
Aquaponics systems are both versatile and affordable. The system can be designed with a small indoor fish tank to fit in an apartment, or as big as a huge fish pool, large enough to maintain thousands of plants.

System Designed by Livingreen Israel
Photos by: Yaniv Fieldust, The Solar Garden
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Opening event will be held on Wednesday, October 17th 2012 at 10am
at Golden Sunbeam school campus, Ayikuma.
The event will be honored by the presence of The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana
Her Excellency Mrs. Sharon Bar-Li
Transit bus will be available from Adenta Station location
on Wednesday morning, leaving 9:00am.
For exact details and transit confirmation please contact:
Mr. Yaniv Fieldust – 023-5056244
Call or Text
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