Delta Air Lines helps open Forever Young Aquaponics, extending decades of ties with Andrew J. Young Foundation

Delta Air Lines joined local leaders and community partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Forever Young Aquaponics facility in Clayton County, Georgia, a project described by the company as both a sustainability initiative and a practical learning hub for residents and youth.

According to Delta News Hub, the June 2 event brought together executives and representatives including Delta President Peter Carter, Clayton County Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry and Gaurav Kumar, president of the Andrew J. Young Foundation. The company said the facility grows out of long-running partnership ties, with programming aimed at education, workforce development and community impact.

The facility uses aquaponics, a combined fish-and-plant growing system that pairs fish farming with hydroponics, the technique of growing plants in nutrient-rich water rather than soil. Delta said the setup is designed as a highly controlled growing environment, allowing the site to operate year-round with less sensitivity to weather and other common farming challenges.

Delta positioned the project as a “closed-loop” model intended to produce fresh food while also teaching skills. The company said the location includes a fish house and greenhouse, and that after the ribbon cutting guests toured the site and saw a culinary demonstration using ingredients grown onsite, illustrating what Delta called the full cycle from production to plate.

During remarks at the event, Carter said the aquaponics operation is more than a facility, describing it as a reflection of Ambassador Andrew Young’s legacy and an extension of the values Delta says Young helped shape. Delta’s release also tied the project to Young’s broader impact in Atlanta and beyond, including his work related to Delta’s own international growth vision.

Delta said its relationship with Ambassador Young spans decades, including Young’s service on Delta’s board of directors. The company added that Delta has previously honored him by naming a Boeing 767-300 after him in 2012 and dedicating a building on its campus in 2021.

The company also linked the facility to philanthropic and storytelling efforts supported through Delta and the Delta Air Lines Foundation. Delta referenced film and media initiatives associated with Young’s public legacy, including a documentary television series titled Andrew Young Presents and a production called The Games in Black and White that focuses on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. In addition, Delta cited a $5 million grant planned toward the Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, described as an initiative intended for Atlanta near Cook Park.

Delta did not provide a specific cost of the aquaponics facility in its release. It also did not disclose detailed output targets in the text shared, though it said that at full capacity the site is expected to produce significant volumes of fresh vegetables and fish each week. For a project marketed around scalable food production and training, the operational metrics and timeline for reaching full capacity appear to be areas that may be clarified in follow-up materials.

Looking ahead, the key question will be how quickly the facility ramps up while meeting both food production goals and training outcomes. Delta’s release emphasized hands-on learning and workforce development in Clayton County, so observers may watch for reported program participation, student or trainee certifications, and the degree to which the food generated is used to expand local food access over time.