The search for more sustainable, environmentally-friendly farming methods has been well underway within the agricultural community, further motivated by growing concerns about food security amidst the looming threat of both climate change and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. One promising concept that has been shyly popping up in recent discussions is aquaponics.
Aquaponics is essentially a practice combining both aquaculture and hydroponics. The idea is to create a symbiotic relationship by growing both fish and plants in the same space—fish manure fertilises the plants with nutrients beneficial for growth; in turn, the plants purify the water which is then pumped back into the fish pond. Aquaponics thus presents an interesting avenue for sustainable, eco-friendly farming, especially in areas where the resources required for more traditional agriculture activities are limited.
Due to the absence of soil, much of the benefits reaped from an aquaponic environment is similar to that of its hydroponics or aeroponics-based cousins, with possible added bonuses. Crop yield and productivity from soilless cultivation systems, for example, are generally higher than their soiled counterparts, with aquaponics having the added advantage of a more natural source of nutrients courtesy of the fish (Trees.com, 2021; Agritecture, 2019; Gashgari et al., 2018).
Pak choi at the Kundasang Aquafarm (Kundasang Aquafarm, 2018)
Still, aquaponics is not the most popular agricultural practice out there, probably owing to factors such as the relatively expensive and complex start-up. However, some places in the world have turned to aquaponics farming as a continuous, sustainable source of fresh produce: an aquaponics lab in Berkshire County, Massachusetts plays a dual role of providing the community with almost 1,000 heads of lettuce a week and as an educational site for inmates; the Malaysian farming scene is seeing a rise in aquaponics spearheaded by small companies/projects such as The Urban Farm, E-Farm, Kundasang Aquafarm, Homegrown Goodness, and Aquaville Asia; German-based desert-tech company Desertfoods International has partnered with Integrated Aquaculture Ltd to establish South Africa’s largest aquaponics facility, which aims to generate 200 tonnes of fish and vegetables annually.