New London — An Old Saybrook-based startup is aiming to put New London on the map in the area of aquaponics, proposing to raise organic produce and seafood for the local market.

Aquafarms America LLC has expressed interest in constructing an eco-friendly and self-sustaining aquaponics farm on a parcel of land in the Fort Trumbull Municipal Development area, opposite the entrance to Fort Trumbull State Park.

Aquaponics is a mix of aquaculture, or raising fish, and hydroponics, which is a way of growing plants without soil.

Aquafarms America plans to, at the onset, grow basil in water that gets its nutrients from waste produced by hybrid striped bass in a contained system. The facility will have the ability to broaden the species of fish raised there and to diversify the variety of greens or vegetables it will grow.

Principals with Aquafarms America pitched their idea to the real estate committee of the Renaissance City Development Association, the city’s development arm, on Wednesday. RCDA Executive Director Peter Davis said the idea is innovative and the initial feedback from real estate committee members was positive. The committee authorized Davis and RCDA President Linda Mariani to continue a conversation with the company with hopes of working toward a commitment.

The plan for the farm calls for construction of a 12,000-square-foot main building that would house the main growing operation: a tiered or vertical system of plants and LED lights on one side and fish tanks on another. There also would be room for offices and classroom space. Another part of the property has enough space for the construction of several 3,000-square-foot greenhouses, which in a future phase of the business would allow for the hydroponic growing of larger vegetables using the same aquaponics techniques.

Edward Gardiner, Aquafarms America's chief operating officer, said the facility likely would be the first of its kind in the state. The company also is looking at sites in Old Saybrook, Shelton and Bridgeport to expand the business and create a network of veteran-owned franchises. He said the company is targeting veterans as both owners and employees.

The one site in New London, with its year-round production, could produce 600,000 pounds of organic greens in a year and 50,000 pounds of fish, Gardiner said. He said he expects the facility to employ between 17 and 20 people, some as managers.

The New London facility, Gardiner said, could at one point become a showcase for others and offer education on food quality, food-security awareness, sustainable farming practices and how locally grown products produced by aquaponics can reduce the carbon footprint.

Gardiner said the plan is ambitious but well researched. His team has worked for years gaining contacts and developing the idea.

“We feel very strongly how viable this project is,” Gardiner said.

Gardiner said along with its own expertise, the company plans to bring in people already well established in the industry — Burdette Industries and Global Aquaponics Inc. — as consultants. Global Aquaponics’ majority shareholder is Tobias “the Tiger” Ritesman, who is the founder and majority shareholder of Ritesman Enterprises Global Aquaponics a global provider of commercial aquaponics systems and services.

Global Aquaponics would work directly with Aquafarms America in setting up the facility and marketing to get the business off the ground, Gardiner said.

Other members of the Aquaponics America team include Chief Executive Officer Tony Autorino, general manager Albert Ambrose and operations manager Mateo Leonardo. Their backgrounds are varied. Autorino is a former United Technologies Corp. executive and now a principal of the Hartford-based CMD Ventures and Hartford Downtown Revival, private real estate and investment companies.

Gardiner is a licensed arborist and owner of the tree service company Tree Tender and has a history in the grocery industry. He was employed at the family business, Gardiner’s Market, where he managed the meat and seafood departments for 25 years. He went on to work for A&P Food Stores and Big Y. He is also a licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain and owner of North Cove Charters, a fly fishing outfitter.

Leonardo is involved in the hair and makeup industry but also has 25 years of experience in hydroponics and greenhouse growing techniques.

The Fort Trumbull parcel under consideration is known as 4A and considered one of the trickier plots to market because of its rock outcroppings and different elevations. An environmental assessment is needed before any construction can start.

Gardiner said he sees the New London location as the possible “proving ground and showplace,” for the company, with the potential for tours, seminars and workshops. If three or more sites get up and running, Gardiner said the New London location eventually could be turned into a rearing location, a place to raise fish for the other operations.

“There is no lack of want for this product,” Gardiner said. “I believe we will have no problem moving all of the product we could possibly produce.”

The initial market for fish and basil would include restaurants and supermarkets within a certain proximity of the grow operation. Gardiner said he expects a working relationship with the Board of Education and connections to local aquaculture programs.

Aquafarms America expects to spend nearly $2 million in setting up the first facility. The tax impact for the city is unclear in part because of the unique nature of the business.

Davis said the idea is something that would dovetail nicely with the city’s Innovation Places initiative, which he said has entrepreneurs thinking “out of the box” on opportunities for the region. It also ties in with the local Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs.

Davis said the RCDA’s executive board will have a look at the proposal next week. One of the questions brought up during the real estate committee discussion was the look of the building, since it would be at the entrance to a state park.

“They want to make sure the building is not just a steel industrial structure and that it’s appropriate for that particular site,” Davis said. “Everybody’s pretty excited about the concept.”

g.smith@theday.com