Aquaponics Farm

Sustainability and innovation are the driving forces behind our farm at FoodChain. We operate an indoor aquaponics farm that raises tilapia and a variety of fresh produce in one interconnected system. Our recirculating aquaponics farm recycles water and nutrients, enabling us to conserve more resources compared to other farming practices. We also have a new salt water aquaculture system growing marine shrimp.

About Our Farm

Aquaponics is a creative approach to sustainable agriculture where two industries- aquaculture (farming fish) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil) – are combined to make one efficient, resource conserving system! Here, the fish waste serves as the fertilizer for the plants and the plants then clean the water to send it back to the fish! Win-win!

FoodChain’s farm focuses on growing tilapia and leafy greens, including lettuces, herbs, and microgreens! We are also excited about the newest addition to the farm… marine shrimp! Much of the harvest is sold to our immediate neighbors at Smithtown Seafood, as well as a handful of other restaurants and kitchens around Lexington.

By keeping it local we are able to clearly demonstrate the economic and environmental advantages of food staying within the community rather than traveling thousands of miles before ending up in a grocery store.

Beyond a cultivation model, our small indoor farm is also a pathway to food systems education for tour groups, interns, volunteers, university research partners, and all visitors who come and visit our little oasis. Education is at the heart of our farm and we love having the opportunity to show people through. Minutes away from the center of Lexington, our farm allows many of nearby schools, families, and individuals to come engage with food production in a new and exciting way.

We offer a Classroom Aquaponics Program (CAP) where we install mini-aquaponics systems in classrooms all over Fayette County. CAP provides a complete and interconnected ecosystem right in the classroom. There are now mini-systems in 22 elementary and middle schools impacting over 10,000 kids’ education everyday!

Come Tour The Farm!

All tours are currently suspended due to COVID-19.

We look forward to resuming the tours when it’s a safer and healthier time for all.

We offer public tours every Saturday from 1-2pm. Come check out our farm, kitchen and grocery future space! Tours cost $10 per adult, and $5 per kid. This can be paid day of in cash, check, or card or you can pre-order tickets here. For Saturday tours, please gather outside of our farm door, located next to the Smithtown Seafood entrance We also book private tours for groups. To book a private tour click here.

Interested in helping out?

From volunteering to interning, we have numerous ways people in the community can come lend a hand on the farm! Volunteer by clicking here! For more information on internships, visit our internship page!