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    Commercial Duckweed Farming - Case Study

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    Yano
    This document discusses GreenSun Products, a company dedicated to producing and marketing duckweed-based pet foods. GreenSun aims to roll out initial products this fall through online and small pet store sales. Their case study explores questions around utilizing abandoned catfish ponds for duckweed farming and developing low-cost harvesting and dewatering methods. GreenSun has established initial product formulations and a sales team, though harvesting has fallen behind due to heavy rains. They discuss targeting niche specialty markets over commodities to avoid competition on price. The company wishes to acquire additional processing equipment to handle their projected growth.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Commercial Duckweed Farming - Case Study

    Uploaded by

    Yano
    84 views51 pages
    This document discusses GreenSun Products, a company dedicated to producing and marketing duckweed-based pet foods. GreenSun aims to roll out initial products this fall through online and small pet store sales. Their case study explores questions around utilizing abandoned catfish ponds for duckweed farming and developing low-cost harvesting and dewatering methods. GreenSun has established initial product formulations and a sales team, though harvesting has fallen behind due to heavy rains. They discuss targeting niche specialty markets over commodities to avoid competition on price. The company wishes to acquire additional processing equipment to handle their projected growth.

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    Commercial Duckweed Farming_Case Study

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    This document discusses GreenSun Products, a company dedicated to producing and marketing duckweed-based pet foods. GreenSun aims to roll out initial products this fall through online and small pet store sales. Their case study explores questions around utilizing abandoned catfish ponds for duckweed farming and developing low-cost harvesting and dewatering methods. GreenSun has established initial product formulations and a sales team, though harvesting has fallen behind due to heavy rains. They discuss targeting niche specialty markets over commodities to avoid competition on price. The company wishes to acquire additional processing equipment to handle their projected growth.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    84 views51 pages

    Commercial Duckweed Farming - Case Study

    Uploaded by

    Yano
    This document discusses GreenSun Products, a company dedicated to producing and marketing duckweed-based pet foods. GreenSun aims to roll out initial products this fall through online and small pet store sales. Their case study explores questions around utilizing abandoned catfish ponds for duckweed farming and developing low-cost harvesting and dewatering methods. GreenSun has established initial product formulations and a sales team, though harvesting has fallen behind due to heavy rains. They discuss targeting niche specialty markets over commodities to avoid competition on price. The company wishes to acquire additional processing equipment to handle their projected growth.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 51

    Commercial Duckweed Farming

    Case Study:
    TM

    2013 International Duckweed Conference on Research and Applications

    GSP Presentation Overview

    THE ONE

    Initial Burning Questions Answered

    She snagged the best niche or not?

    GreenSun Team, Advisors, and Collaborators

    Wish list for GSP

    Questions/Comments

    The ONE

    Our VISION

    GreenSun is dedicated to producing and


    marketing high quality, sustainable duckweedbased pet foods, treats, and supplements for pet
    owners everywhere.

    A Few Details

    How- Sustainable production (organic- spring 2014)


    When- Initial product roll-out this fall
    Where- Initially, online and regional mom and pop pet stores and then

    big box stores


    What- Partial or full substitute for grains, dairy, fillers, and/or fishmeal
    in TBA pet food products- formulations patent-pending

    Duckweed Pellets

    Duckweed Flakes

    GSP Initial Burning Questions


    Is it possible to utilize abandoned
    catfish ponds for duckweed
    production?

    Original pond turbidity and


    overgrowth

    Could I develop low cost ways to


    harvest duckweed?

    Borrowing Harvesting Ideas from Other Industries

    Corralling Duckweed for Manual Harvest

    Could I develop a simple way to


    remove unbound water in
    preparation for drying?

    Dewatering 40 pounds of duckweed in 90 seconds

    Could I integrate solar energy to dry


    duckweed?

    Assembling drying screens

    GSP Solar Dryer

    Heavy Overcast and still

    GreenSun Products, LLC


    state of the company as of 08/12/13
    Production- presently 3+ water acres (10 total)
    Output- pond growth doubling every two days
    Harvesting- behind schedule due to heavy rains
    Processing- currently moving to Phase 2
    Product lines- Initial product line formulations completed
    Sales- team established. MOUs from retail small mom
    and pops in place. Private customers on waiting list.
    Marketing team is fine-tuning branding and sustainable
    packaging

    Did She Snag the Best Nicheor Not???

    Duckweed Whiskey, Anyone?

    Courtesy Loren Willis

    Why Specialty Niche Markets Instead of


    Biofuels or Commodities?
    - Niche markets are WIDE open in all sectors

    - Will not have to compete on price against commodities


    - Lower volume of initial product needed to test market

    acceptance and orders


    - Novelty of duckweed story will aid in faster acceptance
    and investment interest across the board for all
    growers and researchers

    Challenges in Going This Route


    - Smaller customer base means creative upselling
    - Duckweed education costs time and money
    - But no niche pencils out!

    Conclusion:
    Inventive, out-of-box thinking is necessary when
    selecting duckweed niche markets.

    Duckweed
    Niche
    Market
    Ideas

    From www.DuckweedFarming.com

    Simple Duckweed Seeding for Low Tech


    Farming Applications

    Open Pond Comparison:


    Dirt/gravel based with existing flora and fauna
    vs
    Plastic Lined and fresh well water

    Duckweed
    Farming
    Its about
    the journey,
    not the
    destination.

    The ILA Round Table is a high profile bi-weekly concall


    for its members and invited guests. Topics are based on
    current developments in the industry.
    Our members are paving the way for global education,
    research, and production of commercial duckweed
    products.

    GreenSun Products Wishlist


    Equipment Needs:
    Microgrinder
    Pelletizer
    Lab equipment
    Rotary dryer to handle 2 wet tons duckweed/hr

    GreenSun welcomes opportunities for


    collaboration, consulting, internship
    (spring 2014) and research.

    Life isnt about finding


    yourself.
    Life is about creating
    yourself.

    Tamra Fakhoorian
    270-356-0208

    [email protected]
    Skype: tamraf1
    www.GreenSunProducts.com
    www.DuckweedFarming.com

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