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Aquaponics and a New Way of Thinking | Sam Fleming | TEDxCharlotte


[Music]

[Music] in 1950 less than 5% of all major

in 1950 less than 5% of all major

in 1950 less than 5% of all major seafood species were in a state of

seafood species were in a state of

seafood species were in a state of collapse and the state of collapse means

collapse and the state of collapse means

collapse and the state of collapse means that you’re currently at 10% or less of

that you’re currently at 10% or less of

that you’re currently at 10% or less of what would be considered a healthy yield

what would be considered a healthy yield

what would be considered a healthy yield of that species in the ocean now by 2050

of that species in the ocean now by 2050

of that species in the ocean now by 2050 it’s expected that nearly 100% of all

it’s expected that nearly 100% of all

it’s expected that nearly 100% of all major seafood species will be in a state

major seafood species will be in a state

major seafood species will be in a state of collapse

of collapse

of collapse now you couple that with the fact that

now you couple that with the fact that

now you couple that with the fact that our freshwater resources are already in

our freshwater resources are already in

our freshwater resources are already in decline and that the world’s human

decline and that the world’s human

decline and that the world’s human population is expected to increase from

population is expected to increase from

population is expected to increase from its current seven-and-a-half billion to

its current seven-and-a-half billion to

its current seven-and-a-half billion to nine and a half or ten billion so what

nine and a half or ten billion so what

nine and a half or ten billion so what is 2050 look like with virtually no

is 2050 look like with virtually no

is 2050 look like with virtually no seafood left less freshwater and two

seafood left less freshwater and two

seafood left less freshwater and two billion more people on the planet I have

billion more people on the planet I have

billion more people on the planet I have no idea but I’ll leave that up for you

no idea but I’ll leave that up for you

no idea but I’ll leave that up for you to imagine in your own mind regardless

to imagine in your own mind regardless

to imagine in your own mind regardless though if we want to leave this world a

though if we want to leave this world a

though if we want to leave this world a better place for the people that we care

better place for the people that we care

better place for the people that we care about the most we have got to change the

about the most we have got to change the

about the most we have got to change the way that we think I’m here today to

way that we think I’m here today to

way that we think I’m here today to introduce you to a really cool new way

introduce you to a really cool new way

introduce you to a really cool new way of growing food called aquaponics and to

of growing food called aquaponics and to

of growing food called aquaponics and to frame a strategy for changing the way

frame a strategy for changing the way

frame a strategy for changing the way that we think on a mass scale and it

that we think on a mass scale and it

that we think on a mass scale and it starts right here in our city so if you

starts right here in our city so if you

starts right here in our city so if you lived in the 1980s or below you had

lived in the 1980s or below you had

lived in the 1980s or below you had never heard of a species of fish called

never heard of a species of fish called

never heard of a species of fish called tilapia and you’ve probably never seen

tilapia and you’ve probably never seen

tilapia and you’ve probably never seen one with his head on before

one with his head on before

one with his head on before now right now tilapia is one of the most

now right now tilapia is one of the most

now right now tilapia is one of the most popularly consumed seafood products on

popularly consumed seafood products on

popularly consumed seafood products on the planet

the planet

the planet so why in 40 years did it go from total

so why in 40 years did it go from total

so why in 40 years did it go from total obscurity to everybody knowing what it

obscurity to everybody knowing what it

obscurity to everybody knowing what it is well as the oceans stocks were

is well as the oceans stocks were

is well as the oceans stocks were declining worldwide but the demand for

declining worldwide but the demand for

declining worldwide but the demand for seafood products was on the rise we had

seafood products was on the rise we had

seafood products was on the rise we had to start farming fish which is a good

to start farming fish which is a good

to start farming fish which is a good thing because if we want to let the

thing because if we want to let the

thing because if we want to let the ocean species rebound we better start

ocean species rebound we better start

ocean species rebound we better start growing fish ourselves now there’s been

growing fish ourselves now there’s been

growing fish ourselves now there’s been some inherent issues with tilapia

some inherent issues with tilapia

some inherent issues with tilapia farming especially from an environmental

farming especially from an environmental

farming especially from an environmental standpoint and if you can imagine let’s

standpoint and if you can imagine let’s

standpoint and if you can imagine let’s say you put a million fish into a pond

say you put a million fish into a pond

say you put a million fish into a pond and you’re feeding them to get them up

and you’re feeding them to get them up

and you’re feeding them to get them up to market size quick and they’re

to market size quick and they’re

to market size quick and they’re producing waste in the water those ways

producing waste in the water those ways

producing waste in the water those ways start to accumulate and become and that

start to accumulate and become and that

start to accumulate and become and that makes the water become toxic for the

makes the water become toxic for the

makes the water become toxic for the fish so what you would do is you would

fish so what you would do is you would

fish so what you would do is you would discharge a bunch of that dirty water

discharge a bunch of that dirty water

discharge a bunch of that dirty water and you would bring in precious fresh

and you would bring in precious fresh

and you would bring in precious fresh water to re to top up the pond and to

water to re to top up the pond and to

water to re to top up the pond and to make it safe at the fish again so your

make it safe at the fish again so your

make it safe at the fish again so your farming fish which is a good thing but

farming fish which is a good thing but

farming fish which is a good thing but you’re still wasting fresh water so in

you’re still wasting fresh water so in

you’re still wasting fresh water so in the late 1980s the University of virgin

the late 1980s the University of virgin

the late 1980s the University of virgin islands started developing a technology

islands started developing a technology

islands started developing a technology that we now know is aquaponics and with

that we now know is aquaponics and with

that we now know is aquaponics and with aquaponics you raise tilapia or other

aquaponics you raise tilapia or other

aquaponics you raise tilapia or other freshwater fish in tanks and instead of

freshwater fish in tanks and instead of

freshwater fish in tanks and instead of discharging that dirty water

discharging that dirty water

discharging that dirty water you use it to grow plants hydroponically

you use it to grow plants hydroponically

you use it to grow plants hydroponically or without soil and you can see here

or without soil and you can see here

or without soil and you can see here that these plants are floating on

that these plants are floating on

that these plants are floating on styrofoam sheets and there’s little

styrofoam sheets and there’s little

styrofoam sheets and there’s little holes cut in the styrofoam and the roots

holes cut in the styrofoam and the roots

holes cut in the styrofoam and the roots grow down into that water filled with

grow down into that water filled with

grow down into that water filled with nutrients created by the fish and they

nutrients created by the fish and they

nutrients created by the fish and they pull the nutrients out of the water

pull the nutrients out of the water

pull the nutrients out of the water converting them into stems and leaves

converting them into stems and leaves

converting them into stems and leaves and fruits and vegetables

and fruits and vegetables

and fruits and vegetables therefore cleaning the water to be

therefore cleaning the water to be

therefore cleaning the water to be returned back to the fish and this

returned back to the fish and this

returned back to the fish and this allows for a hundred percent

allows for a hundred percent

allows for a hundred percent recirculation of water so now you’re

recirculation of water so now you’re

recirculation of water so now you’re farming fish taking pressure off the

farming fish taking pressure off the

farming fish taking pressure off the oceans you’re recycling the water over

oceans you’re recycling the water over

oceans you’re recycling the water over and over again and you’re growing a ton

and over again and you’re growing a ton

and over again and you’re growing a ton of fresh produce but even more important

of fresh produce but even more important

of fresh produce but even more important maybe is that this is a beautiful

maybe is that this is a beautiful

maybe is that this is a beautiful representation of how an ecosystem works

representation of how an ecosystem works

representation of how an ecosystem works and it has the potential to help us

and it has the potential to help us

and it has the potential to help us mitigate some of these

mitigate some of these

mitigate some of these challenges we face around 2050 but it

challenges we face around 2050 but it

challenges we face around 2050 but it also has the potential to change the way

also has the potential to change the way

also has the potential to change the way that we think so I’m gonna go into a

that we think so I’m gonna go into a

that we think so I’m gonna go into a little bit of a crazy story back in 2011

little bit of a crazy story back in 2011

little bit of a crazy story back in 2011 I was managing a hydroponics retail

I was managing a hydroponics retail

I was managing a hydroponics retail store mostly selling cannabis growing

store mostly selling cannabis growing

store mostly selling cannabis growing equipment weed and I was in my early 20s

equipment weed and I was in my early 20s

equipment weed and I was in my early 20s so you can imagine my life was pretty

so you can imagine my life was pretty

so you can imagine my life was pretty cool and one day a guy walks into my

cool and one day a guy walks into my

cool and one day a guy walks into my store and people used to come up with

store and people used to come up with

store and people used to come up with all these crazy excuses to not like let

all these crazy excuses to not like let

all these crazy excuses to not like let it be known they’re trying to grow weed

it be known they’re trying to grow weed

it be known they’re trying to grow weed so they’d say hey I’m trying to grow the

so they’d say hey I’m trying to grow the

so they’d say hey I’m trying to grow the most sticky potent tomatoes can you help

most sticky potent tomatoes can you help

most sticky potent tomatoes can you help me so this guy comes into my store and

me so this guy comes into my store and

me so this guy comes into my store and he says I just got back from Haiti and

he says I just got back from Haiti and

he says I just got back from Haiti and they just had an earthquake that killed

they just had an earthquake that killed

they just had an earthquake that killed 200,000 people in a couple days

200,000 people in a couple days

200,000 people in a couple days so I knew he wasn’t BS in this time and

so I knew he wasn’t BS in this time and

so I knew he wasn’t BS in this time and he asked me if I could help him because

he asked me if I could help him because

he asked me if I could help him because he was taken down there as an urban

he was taken down there as an urban

he was taken down there as an urban planner to rebuild a new village and he

planner to rebuild a new village and he

planner to rebuild a new village and he couldn’t get his mind past the fact of

couldn’t get his mind past the fact of

couldn’t get his mind past the fact of how are these people going to feed

how are these people going to feed

how are these people going to feed themselves when the aid runs out so he

themselves when the aid runs out so he

themselves when the aid runs out so he saw that you could grow plants without

saw that you could grow plants without

saw that you could grow plants without soil using hydroponics because the soil

soil using hydroponics because the soil

soil using hydroponics because the soil in Haiti is totally exhausted from

in Haiti is totally exhausted from

in Haiti is totally exhausted from deforestation so he googled hydroponics

deforestation so he googled hydroponics

deforestation so he googled hydroponics and he’s at my store this guy’s name was

and he’s at my store this guy’s name was

and he’s at my store this guy’s name was Ron Morgan and Ron was a famous

Ron Morgan and Ron was a famous

Ron Morgan and Ron was a famous architect here in Charlotte and he

architect here in Charlotte and he

architect here in Charlotte and he actually ran the bond referendum to get

actually ran the bond referendum to get

actually ran the bond referendum to get discovery place and spirit square put

discovery place and spirit square put

discovery place and spirit square put here he converted old warehouses into

here he converted old warehouses into

here he converted old warehouses into City Hall’s design green waste systems

City Hall’s design green waste systems

City Hall’s design green waste systems and helped save first ward elementary

and helped save first ward elementary

and helped save first ward elementary back in the 80s so he was a man of great

back in the 80s so he was a man of great

back in the 80s so he was a man of great civic action and here he is in my store

civic action and here he is in my store

civic action and here he is in my store asking me for help to feed people in

asking me for help to feed people in

asking me for help to feed people in Haiti with hydroponics and he had built

Haiti with hydroponics and he had built

Haiti with hydroponics and he had built this dysfunction a garden in his yard as

this dysfunction a garden in his yard as

this dysfunction a garden in his yard as a sort of a prototype of what he could

a sort of a prototype of what he could

a sort of a prototype of what he could eventually send down there but it wasn’t

eventually send down there but it wasn’t

eventually send down there but it wasn’t working so he asked me to come over to

working so he asked me to come over to

working so he asked me to come over to his house and check it out and I told

his house and check it out and I told

his house and check it out and I told him about aquaponics because I had just

him about aquaponics because I had just

him about aquaponics because I had just been learning about it and he flipped

been learning about it and he flipped

been learning about it and he flipped out he was like yeah that’s really cool

out he was like yeah that’s really cool

out he was like yeah that’s really cool so how about we teach people in Haiti

so how about we teach people in Haiti

so how about we teach people in Haiti had a grow fish in vegetables together

had a grow fish in vegetables together

had a grow fish in vegetables together while

while

while recycling the water so me and Ron and a

recycling the water so me and Ron and a

recycling the water so me and Ron and a couple of our friends built an

couple of our friends built an

couple of our friends built an aquaponics system in his yard as an

aquaponics system in his yard as an

aquaponics system in his yard as an example and we tricked this thing out we

example and we tricked this thing out we

example and we tricked this thing out we had a really cool koi pond in the ground

had a really cool koi pond in the ground

had a really cool koi pond in the ground that we crafted out of cement we had

that we crafted out of cement we had

that we crafted out of cement we had plants floating in plastic pipes

plants floating in plastic pipes

plants floating in plastic pipes floating in water and lo and behold kids

floating in water and lo and behold kids

floating in water and lo and behold kids from all around the neighborhood would

from all around the neighborhood would

from all around the neighborhood would come up to the garden and they were

come up to the garden and they were

come up to the garden and they were fascinated with it and remind you we

fascinated with it and remind you we

fascinated with it and remind you we were doing this as a humanitarian effort

were doing this as a humanitarian effort

were doing this as a humanitarian effort but we had kids wanting to get engaged

but we had kids wanting to get engaged

but we had kids wanting to get engaged with this they wanted to feed the fish

with this they wanted to feed the fish

with this they wanted to feed the fish they wanted to harvest the crops so we

they wanted to harvest the crops so we

they wanted to harvest the crops so we started teaching them how to operate it

started teaching them how to operate it

started teaching them how to operate it and in order to operate one you have to

and in order to operate one you have to

and in order to operate one you have to know basic science so we started

know basic science so we started

know basic science so we started teaching them how to check the pH of the

teaching them how to check the pH of the

teaching them how to check the pH of the water nitrogen levels had to record the

water nitrogen levels had to record the

water nitrogen levels had to record the yields and over the course of the next

yields and over the course of the next

yields and over the course of the next couple of weeks

couple of weeks

couple of weeks their parents started to make remarks to

their parents started to make remarks to

their parents started to make remarks to us why is my kid talking about science

us why is my kid talking about science

us why is my kid talking about science at dinner he’s 10 years old this is

at dinner he’s 10 years old this is

at dinner he’s 10 years old this is weird and this started happening over

weird and this started happening over

weird and this started happening over and over again and we started to realize

and over again and we started to realize

and over again and we started to realize aquaponics was not just the cool way to

aquaponics was not just the cool way to

aquaponics was not just the cool way to grow food that was good for the

grow food that was good for the

grow food that was good for the environment but was a profound teaching

environment but was a profound teaching

environment but was a profound teaching tool for science and math and it was

tool for science and math and it was

tool for science and math and it was getting kids engaged and healthy eating

getting kids engaged and healthy eating

getting kids engaged and healthy eating because we’re when they’re invested in

because we’re when they’re invested in

because we’re when they’re invested in growing their own food they’re

growing their own food they’re

growing their own food they’re automatically willing to try so through

automatically willing to try so through

automatically willing to try so through a series of other crazy events we end up

a series of other crazy events we end up

a series of other crazy events we end up getting a contract with the North

getting a contract with the North

getting a contract with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to

Carolina Department of Public Safety to

Carolina Department of Public Safety to set up an aquaponics program and a

set up an aquaponics program and a

set up an aquaponics program and a juvenile detention center and for the

juvenile detention center and for the

juvenile detention center and for the last four years I’ve been teaching

last four years I’ve been teaching

last four years I’ve been teaching incarcerated young men from 14 to 18 had

incarcerated young men from 14 to 18 had

incarcerated young men from 14 to 18 had a grow food using aquaponics and all the

a grow food using aquaponics and all the

a grow food using aquaponics and all the other skills that you learn along the

other skills that you learn along the

other skills that you learn along the way that program became pretty

way that program became pretty

way that program became pretty successful and for we knew it we were

successful and for we knew it we were

successful and for we knew it we were installing aquaponics programs in high

installing aquaponics programs in high

installing aquaponics programs in high schools all around the region we finally

schools all around the region we finally

schools all around the region we finally went down to Haiti installed to there

went down to Haiti installed to there

went down to Haiti installed to there and this thing really started to have a

and this thing really started to have a

and this thing really started to have a life of its own so

life of its own so

life of its own so to give you an example of some of the

to give you an example of some of the

to give you an example of some of the really valuable lessons learned to

really valuable lessons learned to

really valuable lessons learned to aquaponics and schools imagine you have

aquaponics and schools imagine you have

aquaponics and schools imagine you have an aquaponics system at let’s say an

an aquaponics system at let’s say an

an aquaponics system at let’s say an elementary school and you bring in these

elementary school and you bring in these

elementary school and you bring in these little baby fish at the beginning of the

little baby fish at the beginning of the

little baby fish at the beginning of the year and the students are individually

year and the students are individually

year and the students are individually weighing and measuring each one before

weighing and measuring each one before

weighing and measuring each one before they put them in the tank they’re

they put them in the tank they’re

they put them in the tank they’re feeding them throughout the school year

feeding them throughout the school year

feeding them throughout the school year harvesting all the vegetables that are

harvesting all the vegetables that are

harvesting all the vegetables that are growing learning all these cool

growing learning all these cool

growing learning all these cool scientific principles and one day the

scientific principles and one day the

scientific principles and one day the vegetable plants have holes in the

vegetable plants have holes in the

vegetable plants have holes in the leaves and you find out they have an

leaves and you find out they have an

leaves and you find out they have an insect infestation and so what do you do

insect infestation and so what do you do

insect infestation and so what do you do when you have insects on plants you

when you have insects on plants you

when you have insects on plants you spray them with pesticides so the

spray them with pesticides so the

spray them with pesticides so the student spray down these vegetables and

student spray down these vegetables and

student spray down these vegetables and pesticides then the next day they come

pesticides then the next day they come

pesticides then the next day they come in and all the fish that they’ve been

in and all the fish that they’ve been

in and all the fish that they’ve been growing all year are belly-up dead in

growing all year are belly-up dead in

growing all year are belly-up dead in the water and the students are you know

the water and the students are you know

the water and the students are you know they’re devastated what happened well

they’re devastated what happened well

they’re devastated what happened well that comes to find out the pesticides

that comes to find out the pesticides

that comes to find out the pesticides ran off into the water and killed the

ran off into the water and killed the

ran off into the water and killed the fish just like it happens in real life

fish just like it happens in real life

fish just like it happens in real life they were learning to change the way

they were learning to change the way

they were learning to change the way they think because the world we live in

they think because the world we live in

they think because the world we live in is not linear it’s totally dynamic you

is not linear it’s totally dynamic you

is not linear it’s totally dynamic you make one change and it affects the whole

make one change and it affects the whole

make one change and it affects the whole group of different things that

group of different things that

group of different things that experience changes the way a young

experience changes the way a young

experience changes the way a young person views their actions toward the

person views their actions toward the

person views their actions toward the environment it creates a more

environment it creates a more

environment it creates a more compassionate person toward planet Earth

compassionate person toward planet Earth

compassionate person toward planet Earth another example one of our students at

another example one of our students at

another example one of our students at the detention center was in our program

the detention center was in our program

the detention center was in our program for two years and an administrator was

for two years and an administrator was

for two years and an administrator was interviewing him one day they asked what

interviewing him one day they asked what

interviewing him one day they asked what are you gonna do when you’re released

are you gonna do when you’re released

are you gonna do when you’re released from here he says I’m gonna open up a

from here he says I’m gonna open up a

from here he says I’m gonna open up a motorcycle shop and they’re like a

motorcycle shop and they’re like a

motorcycle shop and they’re like a motorcycle shop what does that have to

motorcycle shop what does that have to

motorcycle shop what does that have to do with aquaponics you’ve learned all

do with aquaponics you’ve learned all

do with aquaponics you’ve learned all these great skills he says well before I

these great skills he says well before I

these great skills he says well before I came in this program I didn’t really

came in this program I didn’t really

came in this program I didn’t really know I can do anything but now I can

know I can do anything but now I can

know I can do anything but now I can repair water pumps I can do plumbing I

repair water pumps I can do plumbing I

repair water pumps I can do plumbing I know how to grow food

know how to grow food

know how to grow food I can manage an ecosystem and I think

I can manage an ecosystem and I think

I can manage an ecosystem and I think motorcycles are really cool and now I

motorcycles are really cool and now I

motorcycles are really cool and now I think I can open a motorcycle shop

think I can open a motorcycle shop

think I can open a motorcycle shop so it was about embracing opportunities

so it was about embracing opportunities

so it was about embracing opportunities around hands-on learning that build

around hands-on learning that build

around hands-on learning that build confidence within students so after we

confidence within students so after we

confidence within students so after we had all these high schools on board and

had all these high schools on board and

had all these high schools on board and we had the two gardens in Haiti the

we had the two gardens in Haiti the

we had the two gardens in Haiti the genius of Ron Morgan says why don’t we

genius of Ron Morgan says why don’t we

genius of Ron Morgan says why don’t we start connecting all these gardens

start connecting all these gardens

start connecting all these gardens together so we could have a garden here

together so we could have a garden here

together so we could have a garden here in our city connect to an aquaponic

in our city connect to an aquaponic

in our city connect to an aquaponic garden in Haiti and they could be

garden in Haiti and they could be

garden in Haiti and they could be exchanging all the critical information

exchanging all the critical information

exchanging all the critical information around the garden pH levels nitrogen

around the garden pH levels nitrogen

around the garden pH levels nitrogen levels yield information they could

levels yield information they could

levels yield information they could monitor each other’s garden but more

monitor each other’s garden but more

monitor each other’s garden but more importantly they could talk to each

importantly they could talk to each

importantly they could talk to each other and open up conversations around

other and open up conversations around

other and open up conversations around science food culture why you lived there

science food culture why you lived there

science food culture why you lived there while I live here what it means to live

while I live here what it means to live

while I live here what it means to live in a place like Haiti and through these

in a place like Haiti and through these

in a place like Haiti and through these connections you develop people that have

connections you develop people that have

connections you develop people that have a much better understanding of others

a much better understanding of others

a much better understanding of others through connecting them through

through connecting them through

through connecting them through education one example one of our schools

education one example one of our schools

education one example one of our schools we connected to Haiti up in Statesville

we connected to Haiti up in Statesville

we connected to Haiti up in Statesville the French classes in that school in

the French classes in that school in

the French classes in that school in Statesville got wind that they were

Statesville got wind that they were

Statesville got wind that they were connected to the garden and hey so they

connected to the garden and hey so they

connected to the garden and hey so they teamed up unbeknownst to us with the

teamed up unbeknownst to us with the

teamed up unbeknownst to us with the agriculture classes of the school in the

agriculture classes of the school in the

agriculture classes of the school in the media classes and they developed

media classes and they developed

media classes and they developed aquaponics how-to-videos translated into

aquaponics how-to-videos translated into

aquaponics how-to-videos translated into French to send down to Haiti to teach

French to send down to Haiti to teach

French to send down to Haiti to teach kids about aquaponics now talk about a

kids about aquaponics now talk about a

kids about aquaponics now talk about a French class with some purpose it was

French class with some purpose it was

French class with some purpose it was changing the way that they think about

changing the way that they think about

changing the way that they think about going to school and what we learned with

going to school and what we learned with

going to school and what we learned with these aquaponics gardens you can create

these aquaponics gardens you can create

these aquaponics gardens you can create smarter people through hands-on learning

smarter people through hands-on learning

smarter people through hands-on learning you can create more compassionate people

you can create more compassionate people

you can create more compassionate people in regards to the environment and others

in regards to the environment and others

in regards to the environment and others and you can create healthier people

and you can create healthier people

and you can create healthier people because they’re engaged in eating all

because they’re engaged in eating all

because they’re engaged in eating all the products coming out you change the

the products coming out you change the

the products coming out you change the way that they think

way that they think

way that they think now I mentioned I was going to frame a

now I mentioned I was going to frame a

now I mentioned I was going to frame a strategy for changing the way that we

strategy for changing the way that we

strategy for changing the way that we think on a mass scale let’s say you put

think on a mass scale let’s say you put

think on a mass scale let’s say you put an aquaponics garden in a school and you

an aquaponics garden in a school and you

an aquaponics garden in a school and you had 200 students in that school changing

had 200 students in that school changing

had 200 students in that school changing the way they think

the way they think

the way they think let’s say a city were to upfit 100

let’s say a city were to upfit 100

let’s say a city were to upfit 100 schools with aquaponics gardens let’s

schools with aquaponics gardens let’s

schools with aquaponics gardens let’s say it’s Charlotte I’m from here so

say it’s Charlotte I’m from here so

say it’s Charlotte I’m from here so let’s say it’s Charlotte if you had 200

let’s say it’s Charlotte if you had 200

let’s say it’s Charlotte if you had 200 students per school per year and yet 100

students per school per year and yet 100

students per school per year and yet 100 of them

of them

of them that’d be twenty thousand students per

that’d be twenty thousand students per

that’d be twenty thousand students per year changing the way they think and in

year changing the way they think and in

year changing the way they think and in short order over ten years that would be

short order over ten years that would be

short order over ten years that would be 200 thousand students who are smarter

200 thousand students who are smarter

200 thousand students who are smarter who are more compassionate toward the

who are more compassionate toward the

who are more compassionate toward the environment in each other who eat

environment in each other who eat

environment in each other who eat healthier who are all-around better

healthier who are all-around better

healthier who are all-around better people

people

people you know what 200,000 represents in this

you know what 200,000 represents in this

you know what 200,000 represents in this city

city

city it’s one quarter of our current

it’s one quarter of our current

it’s one quarter of our current population it effectively is an entire

population it effectively is an entire

population it effectively is an entire generation of people who change the way

generation of people who change the way

generation of people who change the way that they think now what implications

that they think now what implications

that they think now what implications does that have on our city well I had to

does that have on our city well I had to

does that have on our city well I had to imagine what 2050 looks like with

imagine what 2050 looks like with

imagine what 2050 looks like with virtually no seafood less fresh water

virtually no seafood less fresh water

virtually no seafood less fresh water more people well what if in 2050 we had

more people well what if in 2050 we had

more people well what if in 2050 we had plenty of seafood left and all those

plenty of seafood left and all those

plenty of seafood left and all those endangered species are rebounding and we

endangered species are rebounding and we

endangered species are rebounding and we have plenty of fresh water and we’ve

have plenty of fresh water and we’ve

have plenty of fresh water and we’ve avoided all of the Civic unrest that

avoided all of the Civic unrest that

avoided all of the Civic unrest that could have been due to too few resources

could have been due to too few resources

could have been due to too few resources to go around for all the people what if

to go around for all the people what if

to go around for all the people what if those people living in a better world

those people living in a better world

those people living in a better world the people we care about the most

the people we care about the most

the people we care about the most did it just view Charlotte as a place

did it just view Charlotte as a place

did it just view Charlotte as a place with sports teams and international

with sports teams and international

with sports teams and international airport craft breweries but the city

airport craft breweries but the city

airport craft breweries but the city that three decades earlier decided that

that three decades earlier decided that

that three decades earlier decided that they were going to change the way an

they were going to change the way an

they were going to change the way an entire generation of people think the

entire generation of people think the

entire generation of people think the city that showed the whole world how to

city that showed the whole world how to

city that showed the whole world how to do it the city that in large part helped

do it the city that in large part helped

do it the city that in large part helped to save the human species and the planet

to save the human species and the planet

to save the human species and the planet as we know it now talk about something

as we know it now talk about something

as we know it now talk about something to be known for for a city and we

to be known for for a city and we

to be known for for a city and we do big bold moves like building 100

do big bold moves like building 100

do big bold moves like building 100 gardens that legacy and that identity is

gardens that legacy and that identity is

gardens that legacy and that identity is ours to have a year and a half ago my

ours to have a year and a half ago my

ours to have a year and a half ago my friend Ron Morgan died of cancer and in

friend Ron Morgan died of cancer and in

friend Ron Morgan died of cancer and in his last days he sat me down

his last days he sat me down

his last days he sat me down he said Sam I want to thank you for

he said Sam I want to thank you for

he said Sam I want to thank you for being a part of the most important

being a part of the most important

being a part of the most important project of my life changing the way

project of my life changing the way

project of my life changing the way people think about learning about food

people think about learning about food

people think about learning about food about each other was Ron’s most

about each other was Ron’s most

about each other was Ron’s most important project and if we want 2050 to

important project and if we want 2050 to

important project and if we want 2050 to be a better world for the people we care

be a better world for the people we care

be a better world for the people we care about the most

about the most

about the most changing the way we think might just be

changing the way we think might just be

changing the way we think might just be the most important project for all of

the most important project for all of

the most important project for all of humanity

humanity

humanity thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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