The RAS-based farms in Colorado and Georgia will grow fish and vegetables sustainably, supporting farmers without upfront costs.
An initiative of the Andrew J. Young Foundation, Forever Young Aquaponics is launching two fully recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) integrated aquaponic facilities in the United States. The two sites are in Colorado and Georgia, and both were equipped by Innovasea with design support offered throughout the process.
Marc Turano, Vicepresident of Innovasea, mentioned: “We are proud to support this regenerative initiative and bring advanced, sustainable solutions to different types of land-based aquaculture.” Turano also added: “It’s another way we’re using state-of-the-art technology to deliver operations that are responsible, scalable and profitable.”
The Colorado facility, featuring eight fish tanks, will produce rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and baby spinach. Fish have already been stocked, and the farm expects to produce 20-30 tons per year on what was unusable desert land in southern Colorado, where freshwater is a premium resource.
The Georgia site, roughly double the size of its Colorado counterpart, will pair tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with a baby mesclun mix. Construction is ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2026. Once live, the site will produce 70 tons of tilapia per year, and over 10,000 pounds of fresh vegetables a week.
For both projects, Innovasea’s RAS design team needed to effectively account for and build solutions that considered the complex flow and needs of a large aquaponics facility. This meant developing systems that supported sustained fish and plant growth in a balanced and cooperative environment.
Arvind Vankat, Managing Partner of Forever Young Farms and Founder of Waterfarmers, said: “Innovasea’s expertise was crucial in helping us design farms that could succeed in each unique location and meet the area’s specific operational demands. These projects are centered around a holistic approach to aquaculture, supporting both environmental responsibility and the production of sustainable protein.”
Through Forever Young Farms (the parent organization of Forever Young Aquaponics and an initiative of the Andrew J. Young Foundation), the initiative aims to address food insecurity by equipping farmers with systems, technology, and expertise to operate aquaponics farms successfully.
The programs will allow eligible farmers to open a new site on their land without making an initial CapEx investment. Instead, Forever Young Aquaponics helps operate the farms, while farmers make monthly payments to eventually own the systems, removing a major barrier to entry caused by construction and equipment costs.
Andrew J Young, founder of the Andrew J. Young Foundation, stated: “Forever Young Aquaponics' mission is to be more than just a farm; it's a living example of how we can grow fresh food year-round while protecting the natural resources that sustain us. When done right, it holds the potential to be the true trifecta of food, water and community.”
