As the global population continues to grow at a rapid pace, it becomes crucial for us to explore methods of cultivating and generating greater quantities of nourishing food for ourselves, particularly for individuals residing in developing nations where food scarcity is a significant concern. This is where aquaponic farming comes into play.
What Is Aquaponic Farming?
Aquaponic farming is a system that combines aquaculture, the breeding of aquatic animals, with hydroponics, the cultivation of plants in water. Within this food production system, plants that grow without soil are nourished and cultivated using nutrient-rich aquaculture water.
This new approach to providing better nutrition for millions of people worldwide involves a resilient agri-business that can be implemented on both small homesteads and large industrial scales.
Ancient Aquaponic Cultivation
When it comes to the origins of this farming system, there are two different viewpoints. One perspective suggests that aquaponics can be traced back to the Aztecs around 1000 AD, while another viewpoint credits Chinese farmers from the 6th century as the pioneers.
The assertion is made that the Aztecs cultivated their plants on rafts that were positioned on the surfaces of the lakes. They devised a method of constructing artificial agricultural islands, known as chinampas, and utilized fish waste as fertilizers for their crops.
6th-century Chinese farmers from South China, Indonesia, and Thailand developed a system in which they used water to cultivate rice fields and breed fish and other aquatic animals. They also raised ducks in cages set over finfish ponds, allowing the finfish to process the ducks’ waste, which then flowed into a lower pond that bred catfish. The catfish thrived on this waste and the water from the catfish pond, now rich in nutrients, was used to nourish the rice paddies.
Modern Aquaponics
Paula and Tom Speraneo successfully implemented an aquaponic system in 1980, which was highly effective and suitable for smaller farming systems. Additionally, they were pioneers in incorporating gravel beds into the setup.
The system developed by the Speraneo’s, in which vegetables and herbs were grown using nutrient-rich water from tilapia fish breeding tanks, forms the basis of many modern aquaponic farming systems. Their system was highly regarded and acknowledged, and is now seen as the source of inspiration for numerous homestead aquaponic systems.
Solving Problems Brought on by Water Shortages
Aquaponic agricultural systems utilize only 10% of the water and a reduced amount of nutrients compared to traditional fish farming methods, allowing for the same volume of fish to be fed. Consequently, this approach significantly boosts cost-effectiveness when compared to conventional agricultural practices. Presently, numerous farms worldwide are successfully cultivating and selling vegetables, herbs, and ornamental plants through aquaponics, generating substantial profits.
Benefits of Having an Aquaponics Garden at Home
Make sure you are aware of where your food comes from.
By growing your own food, you gain the advantage of having precise knowledge about the location and method of cultivation. You have the freedom to choose the specific plants and fish that will be cultivated.
Leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are among the popular plants that can be easily grown in aquaponics setups.
The type of fish you decide to have in your tank will vary depending on your intention of either cultivating fish for consumption or keeping decorative freshwater fish. If your goal is to rear fish for food, Tilapia is the most popular option.
Decreases the distance that food travels.
As people increasingly become curious about the origin of their food, the local food movement is experiencing significant growth due to the rising concern over the environmental impact of food transportation.
Supermarkets nowadays offer food that generally has a significant distance of travel. It is probable that the food has been cultivated in faraway locations, possibly spanning hundreds or even thousands of miles, before being transported by air to the nearby region.
By utilizing an aquaponics system, you have the opportunity to obtain the fish and plant seeds from a trustworthy origin, enabling you to cultivate food in the comfort of your own backyard.
No chemical substances are involved.
One more advantage of cultivating food in an aquaponics system is that there is no possibility to deceive by employing chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, or pesticides.
If you introduce anything harmful to the system, such as live fish, it is highly likely that the fish will die and the entire setup will fail, since live fish are a crucial element in this arrangement.
Hence, this system is considered one of the most authentic and inherent methods to cultivate food.
Other food farming methods require more water than this one.
Aquaponics requires only 10% of the water used in other conventional agricultural methods.
Due to the fact that 95% of the water is reused, the water functions in a perpetual closed loop system, flowing through the plants that serve as a filtration mechanism to purify the water.
By eliminating the requirement for regular aquaculture, this method eliminates the necessity of implementing water changes. It also eliminates the need to provide irrigation for the plants.
It is possible to cultivate food in spaces of any size.
Given that the global population is increasing, it is essential to find creative methods of cultivating food in limited spaces. Aquaponics perfectly aligns with this objective.
Systems can be architecturally designed in various orientations, such as vertically, horizontally, or stacked on top of each other, in order to effectively utilize the existing space.
Regardless of whether you have a small backyard or a vast garden, it is possible for you to create an aquaponics system that allows for food cultivation.
A food source that can be sustained over time.
There are various reasons why this method of food production is sustainable. It requires a smaller amount of water compared to other methods due to its ability to continually recycle the water. By excluding soil from the process, this system becomes applicable in regions lacking fertile soil and limited water resources.
The plants receive all the necessary nutrients from the fish in a completely natural fertilizing method. By replicating the natural ecosystem, this system enables organic growth of the plants, which enhances the quality of the food.
This method is almost waste-free. The solids remaining in the fish tanks can be utilized as natural fertilizers for soil-based plants, or included in the compost pile. The fish or compost can consume any plants that are not harvested or have been damaged.
The Potential Future Norm
Aquaponics, a farming system alternative suitable for nations experiencing cold-weather or hot, dry-weather conditions as well as urban centers and community farms, remains an intriguing option. Despite its increasing popularity, there is still untapped potential in fully exploring its capabilities.
In the near future, this farming system will become the norm instead of the exception.
