One such example is the BYAP forums (backyardaquaponics.com). They are recognized as the first such aquaponic forum to really take off (there were some others, but not much. The founding admin of BYAP started in the Barrelponnics yahoo group). To this day they are the largest aquaponic forum, far above all the others. They are responsible for taking aquaponics to the next level, critical mass. This is important because aquaponics is a tool of agriculture that uses 2-10% of the water of normal agriculture (a boon in arid nations such as Australia). Aquaponics has also been studied at North Carolina University and others to be just as productive as hydroponics (though research is thin). And as a result of this forum has led to boom in aquaponics technology. Since no one owns the technique people are sharing this technology with people in South Africa, and other countries.
Another example is the urban farming guys. If you're unfamiliar with them they are a group of families from the suburbs who moved to inner city Kansas City to build farms on abandon plots and improve the neighborhood as a whole. (theurbanfarmingguys.com) They also have found ways to improve conditions in a orphanage in India using what they have learned about intensive fish farming and plant cultivation (aquaponics). Furthermore they have a forum in which people can learn of this technology; to exploit it for social good in their country or city.
If the internet was not free the ubiquitous amount of free available technology would not exist. So, if aquaponics was "born" on the internet the proliferation would be minimal, thus rendering this great technology unable to help. In general gardening practices such as, permaculture , square foot gardening, and other techniques might not proliferate. This leaves third world peoples with food prices higher than they are able to buy.
If you have an example of a important idea, technology, etc. that needs to be recognized leave a comment.
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