The Rise of the Aquaculture Industry - Part 2

Audio provided as a service to farm broadcasters by the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

Audio with Dan Burden, Iowa State University Value-Added Ag Program Coordinator and Allen Pattillo (Pat-tee-yo), Iowa State University Extension Fisheries and Aquaculture Specialist.

**Editor’s Note: This is the second of a 2-part series.**


Suggested Lead: The aquaculture industry in the Midwest has been growing in recent years. Iowa State University Value-Added Ag Program Coordinator Dan Burden says looking worldwide at what’s happening with population and export markets - he sees potential for the U.S. aquaculture industry to export product to China and Japan in 10 to 15 years.

Burden says the Midwest is known for high-quality livestock products - and the same can be said for aquaculture. Iowa State University Extension aquaculture specialist Allen Pattillo agrees…tape

Cut #1               :35                                O.C…”another species.”

Currently - Pattillo says the Midwest doesn’t have a demand to fuel the need for a feed manufacturer - which is good considering the large aquaculture feed manufacturers are located near their largest markets. Parallel to the feed issue is the processing issue - according to Burden…tape

Cut #2               :32                                O.C…”their kitchens.”

That’s something Burden says the aquaculture industry will have to address moving forward.

Right now - Burden says there’s an increased interest in smaller-scale, pre-commercial aquaponic systems where people can produce high-quality vegetable products for local markets as well as fish. Pattillo says the beautiful aspect of aquaponics is that people can produce multiple crops…tape

Cut #3               :50                                O.C…”like that.”

For more information on aquaculture - visit agmrc dot org (www.agmrc.org).