How We MAKE our Fish amino acid

 Our Fish Amino Acid is a liquid ferment made from brown sugar and farm-raised tilapia from our aquaponic facility in Memphis, TN. Through fermentation, the proteins in fish tissue break down into peptides, vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids. 

 FAA provides essential amino acids that support plant development throughout the entire life cycle, from seed germination to maturity. These building blocks enhance:

• Vegetative growth and root development
• Overall plant vigor and health
• Crop yields
• Resistance to disease and environmental stress

 Beyond feeding plants directly, FAA nourishes beneficial soil microbes that play a critical role in nutrient cycling. A thriving microbial community improves nutrient availability and uptake while strengthening the plant's natural immune system, creating a healthier growing environment from the ground up. 

FAA can be applied in two ways: as a soil drench during watering or as a foliar spray applied directly to plant leaves. Regardless of method, proper dilution is critical. FAA is highly concentrated, and a little goes a long way.

Dilution Ratio: 1:1000 (1 part FAA to 1000 parts water)

• Use 1 ml of FAA per liter of water
• For larger volumes: 4 ml per gallon or 20 ml per 5 gallons

Soil Application Mix diluted FAA with your regular watering routine, applying directly to the soil around the plant's root zone.

Foliar Application Apply diluted FAA directly to plant leaves using a spray bottle or sprayer. Exercise extra caution with foliar applications, as excessive concentration can cause leaf burn or tissue damage.

For best results, spray in the evening as temperatures cool. Plants absorb nutrients more readily during this time, and avoiding direct sunlight prevents potential tissue damage from the combination of moisture and intense light.

FAA is most effective when applied early in a plant's life cycle, including during seed germination. Using FAA at this stage can increase germination rates and provide seedlings with essential nutrients as they begin growing. Continue applying FAA weekly or biweekly throughout the vegetative stage to support robust growth.

Before using FAA, research the specific plants you're growing to ensure compatibility. While FAA benefits most species, some plants may be sensitive to the high nitrogen content, particularly during flowering or fruiting stages. Understanding your plant's nutritional needs will help you determine the best application schedule and whether to reduce or discontinue use during reproductive phases.

 During Flowering and Fruiting Discontinue or significantly reduce FAA applications once plants enter their reproductive stage and begin producing flowers or fruit. The high nitrogen content in FAA can interfere with flower and fruit development, potentially reducing overall crop yields. If you choose to continue applications during this stage, reduce frequency and monitor plant response closely.

During Plant Stress or Disease Avoid applying FAA to plants experiencing stress from drought, temperature extremes, pests, or disease. Stressed plants may not tolerate concentrated nutrients and could suffer further damage.

On Smokable Flowers Never apply FAA as a foliar spray on flowers intended for smoking or combustion. The moisture can become trapped within dense flower structures, creating conditions for mold growth. Foliar applications may also introduce unwanted flavors or aromas to the final product. For these crops, limit FAA foliar applications to the vegetative stage only. 

 Fish-based amendments come in several forms, including fish emulsion and fish hydrolysate. While all provide plant nutrients, FAA offers distinct advantages through its unique fermentation process.

Superior Nutrient Profile The cold fermentation process used to create FAA breaks down all components of the fish into highly bioavailable forms. This produces a more concentrated product with a broader spectrum of micronutrients, amino acids, and peptides that plants can immediately absorb and utilize.

Enhanced Microbial Diversity Unlike fish emulsion (which is heat-processed and strips away beneficial compounds) or fish hydrolysate (which uses only bacterial fermentation), FAA incorporates both bacteria and fungi during fermentation. This creates a richer microbial inoculate that improves soil biology and supports long-term soil health.

Minimal Odor One of the most appreciated benefits of FAA is its mild smell compared to other fish-based products. The fermentation process significantly reduces the pungent fishy odor that can make fish emulsion and some hydrolysates unpleasant to work with.

Sustainable & Local Our FAA is made from tilapia raised at our aquaponic facility in Memphis, TN. These fish spend their lives producing nutrients for our farm before being transformed into FAA through a simple, electricity-free fermentation process that relies only on time and natural microbial action. This closed-loop system ensures traceability, freshness, and minimal environmental impact.
 

There are three types of fish fertilizer that are often compared to one another. These includefish emulsion, fish hydrolysate, and Fish Amino Acid (such as our product). These fertilizers all utilize either whole fish or fish scraps, and they are all processed to make their nutritional content bioavailable to plants. The differences in quality between these products come down mainly to how they are processed.

Fish Emulsion is the most widely available and least expensive of these products. It is made by heating either whole fish or fish scraps, and the oils are often removed during processing to be used in other products. The removal of the oils, combined with the heat used in processing, can lead to the breakdown of some of its nutritional content.

Fish Hydrolysate, rather than using heat for digestion, relies on enzymatic activity to break down the fish parts through a cold process. It is considered a cold process because it is produced at ambient temperatures rather than being heated. The absence of heat during manufacturing allows the full nutritional contents of the fish to remain intact and available to plants, including the oils and fats that fish emulsion tends to lack.

Fish Amino Acid is similar to fish hydrolysate in that a cold fermentation process is also used; however, sugar and microorganisms are added to aid in the breakdown of the fish material. The sugar helps to preserve the product while also feeding the beneficial bacteria and fungi that digest the fish. One notable benefit of this process is that the final fermented product does not carry the strong odor associated with both fish emulsion and fish hydrolysate. Fish Amino Acid offers similar nutritional benefits to fish hydrolysate but may be more versatile in its applications due to the absence of a strong fish smell.