Cluster 13 -- Future Foods: Sustainable Aquaculture & Aquaponic Food Production
- Instructors: Jackson Gross, Nathan Kaufman
- Prerequisites: Biology, or Equivalent
- Field Trips: Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, Bodega Marine Lab, The Fishery, The Bodega Bay Oyster Company, Hog Island Oyster Company, Sterling Caviar, The Nimbus Fish Hatchery, and more
Introduction
Join us as we explore the intersection of science, technology, and modern food production. As global populations grow and environmental conditions shift, the need for sustainable approaches to producing fish, shellfish, and plants is more important than ever. This cluster introduces students to the biology, chemistry, and engineering that support aquaculture and controlled-environment plant production. We will examine how finfish and shellfish are raised in freshwater and marine systems, along with an introduction to hydroponic and aquaponic plant production.
Students will meet producers, researchers, and conservation practitioners and learn how aquatic food systems contribute to sustainable agriculture, habitat restoration, species recovery, and California’s working landscapes. The class includes lectures, discussions, regular field trips, hands-on activities, and group and individual projects designed to connect scientific principles with real-world production challenges.
Freshwater and Marine Aquaculture
• Principles of Freshwater and Saltwater Aquaculture
• Fish and Invertebrate Biology
• Recirculating Aquaculture Systems: Engineering and Design
• Abalone Aquaculture and Conservation
• White Sturgeon Aquaculture and Caviar Production
• Steelhead and Rainbow Trout Aquaculture
• Seaweed Aquaculture
• Oyster Aquaculture and Habitat Restoration
• Tilapia and Catfish Aquaculture
• Crayfish Production
• Feed Manufacturing
• Animal Welfare
Hydroponic and Aquaponic Food Production
• Principles of Hydroponic and Aquaponic Plant Production
• Controlled Environment Agriculture
• Plant Biology, Physiology, Health, and Nutrition
• California Specialty Crops