Aquaponics, a seemingly foreign word, has become quite popular over the past few years. With food resources growing scarce in many parts around the world, aquaponics is a sustainable food production alternative that aims to conserve and reduce the amount of unnecessary resources. It allows virtually anyone to produce their own food while maintaining a sustainable way of life.
This method of food production combines aquaculture and agriculture without the use of soil. This system allows plants, fish, herbs, fruits, and vegetables to
Source: Social Earth
thrive. Founder of World Wide Aquaculture, Wayne Dorband, uses many testing tanks to harvest and encourages others to start as well. Dorband states, “There is no need for additional fertilizer, weed killers or outside food if the system is properly designed” (Clean Technica).
Aquaponics uses only 10% of the water typically used for plant production and just a fraction of the water used for fish. Unlike traditional food production systems, aquaponics uses no chemicals that have proven to beharmful to the environment (Aquaculture).
One of the most beneficial things about aquaponics is that virtually anybody can purchase and set up their aquaponics system from home. Aquaponics mimics the productive systems found in nature, relying on man-made nutrients to create a ‘perfect’ balance within the system (Backyard Aquaponics). By combing fish and plant production, this system allows for optimum growth by providing each species the nutrients that it needs. The plants prov
ide the fish with clean, purified water while the fish’s effluent gives the plants much needed nutrients. Although aquaponics may seem quite complicated at first, it is just a simple cycle between the plants and the fish.
This method of sustainable food production doesn’t stop at a reduction in water usage. Recycled material such as plastic drums, containers, and pipes are often used as equipment for these systems. Since this system reduces water usage, uses recyclable material, and provides a more sustainable way to produce food, aquaponics is sustainable food production at its finest.
Source: Backyard Aquaponics
