Partnerships

AgInno also partners locally and globally with other ministries, organizations, and communities to provide technical guidance and consultation on agriculture problems and opportunities. Sharing is a basic tenet of both the scientific community and Christianity. Examples to-date include sponsored research on sustainable fish feed (Purdue University), an appropriately scaled paddle wheel aerator system for reduced electricity consumption (Olivet Nazarene University - ONU), solar power systems for fishpond aerators (ONU), a RAS/aquaponics system with a locally producible biofilter system (Northwest Nazarene University - NNU), solar dryers for corn and other crops with Point Loma Nazarene University, and automatic fish feeder systems (with ONU and NNU). We also partnered with Mount Vernon Nazarene University to explore the use of a fixed-wing UAV (drone) as a support platform for multi-spectral cameras for agricultural assessments. We also partnered with Servants Hearts Ministries to drill the wells in the three villages over the past few years.

University Partnerships: Paddle Wheel Aerator

2021/22 marks the 3rd year of our sponsorship of a research project at Olivet Nazarene University to develop a paddle wheel aerator system appropriate for intensive small-pond aquaculture in Guatemala. Paddle wheel aerators use less than 50% of the electricity as bubble aerators, yet are only commercially available in large sizes suitable for commercial fish production. We successfully field-tested this prototype in a local fish farmer's tilapia pond - it was able to at least match the aeration rate of a bubble aerator over a 24 hour test run.

In Fall 2022, the ONU team installed a solar power system in one of a local fish farmer's ponds - this enabled the farmer to raise 2000 fish (with zero to minimal fish mortality) in a pond previously capable of raising 600 fish. In May 2023, the ONU team returned and successfully tested paddles with improved durability and lifespan.

Additional partnerships