Envista, Independence LED Partner on Indoor Aquaponics System

Independence LED Lighting LLC and Envista Farms LLC have launched an indoor fish and vegetable farming facility that integrates their LED grow lights and aquaponics systems.

Aquaponics combines aquaculture (raising fish in controlled environments) with hydroponics (growing plants in water), where the fish effluent helps to feed the plants, which in turn helps clean the water.

For the prototype facility, Independence LED Lighting developed custom LED grow lights for 16 × 40-ft elevated planting tables to grow basil and other vegetables. The accompanying fish are freshwater tilapia.

The use of modular LEDs advances indoor and greenhouse agriculture by offering custom wavelengths to deliver optimal photosynthetic photon flux density for specific plants in a given environment, said Independence LED CEO Charlie Szoradi.

Envista Farms is a spinoff of the research and education laboratory at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania. Independence LED Lighting manufactures commercial LED fixtures and grow lights. For more information, visit http://independenceled.com.