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Urban farming and community gardening are gaining popularity as strategies to address food insecurity and inequities in city life. Urban agriculture has been proposed as a way to enhance a city’s resilience. This concept is not new, as Ludwig Hilberseimer and Alfred Caldwell demonstrated in the 1940s when they envisioned a more resilient city for the industrialized world utilizing a decentralized, linear development model within a productive living landscape. In asserting that “small farms could solve mass poverty, mass unemployment and inflation– our great national disasters,” Caldwell presented a vision of small-scale farming as an act of resistance and empowerment for individuals, with the goal of initiating large-scale social and environmental transformation. This study takes Caldwell’s assertion as a starting point to investigate what we can learn from existing examples of urban agriculture in order to enhance urban resilience. The research examines three distinct approaches to urban farming currently implemented in Chicago, aiming to extrapolate their scalability and impact on broader societal and environmental change. The selected cases represent a range of farming practices and organizational types, encompassing conventional raised bed farming, aquaponics, hydroponics, and permaculture. Organizational diversity is reflected in the inclusion of a large non-profit organization, a local community group, and a private entrepreneur. Each case is analyzed based on a) The specific approach to farming technologies and practices, b) The corresponding development and implementation process leading to fruition, c) Evaluation of its transformative effects on individuals and its broader societal and environmental impact, d) Identification of perceived opportunities or barriers to growth and long-term success. The study identifies numerous opportunities for scaling up and emphasizes the varied objectives in urban agriculture. To support the growth of urban agriculture wit

Urban farming and community gardening are gaining popularity as strategies to address food insecurity and inequities in city life. Urban agriculture has been proposed as a way to enhance a city’s resilience. This concept is not new, as Ludwig Hilberseimer and Alfred Caldwell demonstrated in the 1940s when they envisioned a more resilient city for the industrialized world utilizing a decentralized, linear development model within a productive living landscape. In asserting that “small farms could solve mass poverty, mass unemployment and inflation– our great national disasters,” Caldwell presented a vision of small-scale farming as an act of resistance and empowerment for individuals, with the goal of initiating large-scale social and environmental transformation. This study takes Caldwell’s assertion as a starting point to investigate what we can learn from existing examples of urban agriculture in order to enhance urban resilience. The research examines three distinct approaches to urban farming currently implemented in Chicago, aiming to extrapolate their scalability and impact on broader societal and environmental change. The selected cases represent a range of farming practices and organizational types, encompassing conventional raised bed farming, aquaponics, hydroponics, and permaculture. Organizational diversity is reflected in the inclusion of a large non-profit organization, a local community group, and a private entrepreneur. Each case is analyzed based on a) The specific approach to farming technologies and practices, b) The corresponding development and implementation process leading to fruition, c) Evaluation of its transformative effects on individuals and its broader societal and environmental impact, d) Identification of perceived opportunities or barriers to growth and long-term success. The study identifies numerous opportunities for scaling up and emphasizes the varied objectives in urban agriculture. To support the growth of urban agriculture wit

From deepest of heart containing the warm pleasuring well wishes we are feeling very lucky and honoured to present you the thoroughly revised, willingly prepared and studied with high efforts, the first edition of.We hope the book will become helpful to all the readers of this book who have taken it as a source of knowledge what they seek for. The book is written with immense hard work; dedication and desperation. We have tried to put all the information available to me on these topics for the readers and tried to make it as easy as possible for the easy and correct understanding of the topics by readers. The book is written with dedicated practices of restless work with determination and passion for the writing of a book helpful on this subject. The book is containing the information mostly for the students but we believe that it can also be helpful for everyone.The book is consisting 7 Units al together in it. The unit 1 is focusing on the topic History of Development of Microbiology. The unit 2 is containing the about Diversity of Microorganisms. Unit 3 is filled with the Information about the Different types of Microscopy. The details on the Different types of sterilization technique is described in unit 4. Microbes in Human Health (Medical Microbiology and Immunology) & Environmental Microbiology is widely discussed in unit 5. The unit 6 contains about Industrial Microbiology or Microbes used in Industry. The Unit 7 is discussed about the Food and Dairy Microbiology.We are thankful to the publishers for the speedy and quality production. We shall welcome the constructive suggestion, if any, from the reader.

Thesis (Master of Engineering: Engineering: Electrical)--Central University of Technology, 2021, In recent years, climate change awareness, with resultant potential dwindling water resources and strain on existing food production infrastructure, has grown. Establishing a sound scientific basis for the creation, operation, and maintenance of alternative sustainable food production methodologies is thus essential. The ‘closed system’ nature of aquaponics promises high yield versus surface area as compared to traditional agriculture and is inherently sustainable. Since aquaponics systems may be set up in cities and suburbs, there is potential to establish food ‘cells’ that benefit the population in the immediate area. Such benefits include fresh produce, reduced storage, pollution and transportation costs, and increased employment and food security. In a climate that features freezing winter temperatures (such as in Bloemfontein, South Africa), sustainable thermal supplementation is required to maintain the viability of aquaponics systems. Monitoring and controlling thermal supplementation in real-time is necessary to mitigate thermal losses and prevent bio-filter micro-biota mortality related to extreme cold winter temperatures and to ensure sustainability. The dynamic interrelated nature of thermal interaction between aquaponics subsystems and the large volume of water typically present in main aquaponics reservoirs further inform the necessity of implementing such a monitoring and control system. Presenting the aquaponics system and subsystems’ thermal interaction in a conceptually simplified manner, which may be applied to other aquaponics systems and topologies, also promotes integration of aquaponics into the African agricultural paradigm. The subsystem contributions, as conceptually described via water mass-flow energy transfer, may be readily quantified by differential temperature measurement and volumetric flow determination. Furthermore, presenting a grid-equivalent energy- purchase estimation methodology to maintain sustainability potentially motivates

In a report in 2017, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) determined that food production would need to be intensified by 50% between the years 2012 and 2050. In the same report, it was also determined it would not be environmentally sustainable to off-set more land for agriculture, to produce more crops with high nutritional value. In the consecutive report (2018), the obstacles of rural farming was highlighted within the context of migration and urbanisation. Aquaponics (AP) is often identified as an agri-aquacultural system that can be implemented in nonarable and urban areas to increase food security in a sustainable way. This work aims to explore the relevance and potential hindrances to implementation of commercial aquaponics in Sweden through a qualitative review of existing literature related to system design, social aspects such as Swedish legislation and policy, economy, as well as sustainability. Several obstacles that could potentially constitute a hindrance were identified. The obstacles are multi-faceted and relate to social aspects in Sweden, including public knowledge of aquaponics as a sustainable food production system, economical viability, legislation leading to high administrative load, competition from similar systems and a lack of education, as well as the advanced biotechnological nature and infancy of the system itself leading to risk of failure. There are still several topics that require research. In Sweden specifically, future research is suggested to focus on combinations of species suitable for the Swedish market, as well as the development of computer modelling of aquaponic systems based on Swedish parameters., I en rapport från 2017 fastställde Förenta Nationernas Livsmedels- och Jordbruksorganisation att produktionen av livsmedel behövde ökas med 50% mellan åren 2012 och 2050. I samma rapport framgick att det inte vore miljömässigt hållbart att avsätta mer mark för jordbruksproduktion för att kultivera grödor med högt näringsinnehåll. I nästföljande års rapport (2018) så belystes problematiken i lantmässig produktion i kontexten flyttströmmar och urbanisering. Ofta identifieras akvaponik som ett agri-vattenbrukssystem som kan implementeras på icke odlingsbar mark och i urbana miljöer, som ett sätt att öka självförsörjningsgraden på ett hållbart sätt. Detta arbete tar som mål att undersöka relevansen för, och de potentiella hinder som kan mötas av, kommersiell akvaponik i Sverige. Detta görs genom att kvalitativt utvärdera litteraturen kopplad till akvaponisk systemdesign, sociala förhållanden så som lagskrivning och regler, ekonomi, samt hållbarhet. Flera hinder som potentiellt kan motverka implementering an akvaponik i den svenska livsmedelsproduktionen kunde identifieras. Hindren är mångfasseterade och kopplar till sociala aspekter, så som konsumenters igenkänning av akvaponiska produkter som hållbara livsmedelsalternativ, ekonomisk lönsamhet, lagskrivning som leder till hög administrativ börda, konkurrens från likartade livsmedelsproduktionssystem, samt brist på utbildning. Andra aspekter så som systemets avancerade natur och de barnfel som kvarstår från att systemet är en relativt ung teknologi utgör även de ett visst mått hinder eftersom dessa aspekter ökar risken att misslyckas. Det kvarstår flera ämnen som kräver vidare internationell forskning. I Sverige, specifikt, föreslås att forskning tar sikt mot marknadsspecifika kombinationer av livsmedel som kan produceras i akvaponiska system, samt datormodellering av odlingar med svenska parametrar i åtanke.

Automation of aquaponics systems is key in increasing agricultural efficiency and productivity. A system considered an innovative method of sustainable food production that combines fish farming with agriculture simultaneously. The problem that often occurs is crop failure, due to the lack of technology that can monitor automatically, so that farmers experience losses as a result of fish and plant growth does not thrive, and problems in urban areas that require land for planting and fish farming due to limited land in urban areas. There is another problem with the lack of accurate timing and monitoring of water quality in aquaponics. The purpose of this research is to implement an IoT system in aquaponics that is connected to various sensors, such as Turbidity sensors, Water Level sensors, and RTC Modules. To monitor water quality conditions in tilapia habitat and accurate time measurement to provide fish feed automatically so as to improve fish health and growth and support better and consistent yields. The findings of this study show that the implementation of IoT systems in aquaponics can overcome environmental monitoring and control problems effectively. Using the integration of RTC modules, turbidity sensors, and water level sensors effectively improves the automation of aquaponics systems. This optimized system provides better monitoring of environmental conditions, reduces reliance on manual maintenance, and increases overall productivity. It helps increase tilapia growth and plant productivity in a modern aquaponics system. This research demonstrates the great potential of IoT technology in increasing efficiency and productivity in aquaponics aquaculture, so that it can push the fisheries sector towards a more advanced and competitive direction. So the main conclusion is expected that this automation can increase the productivity of ecosystem balance, and can face food security challenges and move towards more environmentally friendly solutions, towards effe

Agritourism is a type of ecological tourism that combines agricultural activities with tourism. There is a growing interest in this industry worldwide, which poses both opportunities and challenges for social and natural environments. Grounded on the theory of situated learning, we developed an augmented reality-based educational resource to promote eco-agritourism – namely, to promote agritourism while encouraging tourists to be environmentally responsible. This study presents the results of an educational experiment that compared the scores of students who were instructed using a combination of the augmented reality-based educational resource and the professor's guidance with those of students who were instructed only by the professor. The study analyzed the learning outcomes and the degree of users’ motivation to learn about aquaponics in an agritourism farm. The participants were 40 volunteers who had no previous knowledge about aquaponics. The results show that the resource has a medium effect size on learning gains and a large effect on knowledge retention. Likewise, the data indicates that the resource increased users’ motivation to learn and practice responsible agritourism. These results seem to indicate that augmented reality-based resources are appropriate for promoting eco-agritourism and encourage tourists to develop a positive bond with nature., Depto. de Ingeniería de Software e Inteligencia Artificial (ISIA), Fac. de Informática, TRUE, pub

Societal Impact Statement Refining circular multitrophic food production methods, which integrate plant, fish, and insect outputs, is imperative for environmental sustainability. Our findings suggest that the right protein choices in fish feed, like black soldier fly meal and poultry meal, can notably enhance the nutrient profile of fish waste water. This, in turn, is conducive for hydroponic cultivation, enhancing the nutritional attributes of plants like basil and lettuce. As we reduce environmental impact and optimize resource use, it is evident that our food ecosystems are deeply intertwined. Harnessing these synergies could redefine our approach to food production, paving the way for a more sustainable global future. Summary - Optimization of nutrient use efficiencies in circular multitrophic food production systems (i.e., plant, fish, and insect production) is crucial for sustainability. This study tested how protein ingredient choice in fish feed influences the plant nutritional value of the fish waste water when used for hydroponic crop production. - Waste water samples were obtained from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in which Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed different single protein source diets—black soldier fly meal (BSFM), poultry by-product meal (PM), poultry blood meal (PBM), and fish meal. Water was analyzed for plant nutrients and used for lettuce and basil cultivation to evaluate their suitability for hydroponic crop production—viz. yield, mineral nutrient, and selected secondary metabolite levels. - BSFM RAS water had the highest concentrations of K, Mg, and micronutrients (Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn) of the RAS waters, whereas PM RAS water contained the highest P concentration and had a mean pH of 6.5 closer to the optimum pH for hydroponic plants. These RAS waters consequently lead to the highest yields in basil and lettuce indicating the importance of the aforementioned factors. - From a plant production perspective, BSFM appears prom, Bundesminesterium für Bildung und Forschung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659, Open Access Publication Fund of Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Peer Reviewed

The production of leafy green vegetables through aquaponics is established worldwide, but the production of herbs which are used in day-to-day life in the United Arab Emirates is not yet explored in this system in terms of production efficiency, water usage and the nutrient parameters. In the current study, basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), the two commonly used herbs, were grown in a traditional aquaponics system using tilapia fish and catfish effluent water (soil-less agriculture) and an irrigation-based greenhouse cultivation system (soil cultivation). The study's major goal is to evaluate several growth techniques for these herbs and choose the most effective one. The growth metrics of the plants, the nutrient makeup of the plants and the aquaponics water, and the antioxidant levels of the herbs were all examined at the end of the experiment. In terms of morphological data, the aquaponics method for growing basil and coriander was clearly superior compared to the soil-based approach. The findings indicate that in a soil-less (aquaponic) system, the growth parameters for both herbs, including plant height, root length, number of leaves, and fresh and dry weights, were significantly higher when compared to the conventional soil system. The substantial improvement may have been the way the plants used the nutrients in the aquaponics fish effluent water. The fish performance also showed significant enhancement under aquaponic set up, in terms of growth and survival rate. This study helps to provide convincing proof that a sustainable aquaponics system is superior to other conventional methods of food production. The study also found that plants from both systems had significantly higher levels of nutrients, although the antioxidant activity in both herbs was higher in the aquaponic system. Additionally, the water use efficiency of the aquaponics system was much higher than the conventional system, with water savi

Human populations have been able to generate food through traditional farming and fishkeeping, but as societies expand, there is a decreasing amount of land for cultivation. Additionally, it is challenging to produce crops gradually because of climate change. These issues are addressed via aquaponics. Aquaponics is a system that includes both hydroponics and aquaculture. In this system, plants are grown soil-less, the waste water from the fishes grown are fed as food for the plants grown. To increase the productivity and yield of the crops through this system, here we are inducing Internet of Things (IoT) and solar energy. We are developing this system using IoT, to monitor pH, Temperature, Nitrification process, health of the fishes, the quality of the crops and to reduce manual monitoring using the electrical source. This paper aims to develop a minimal cost-effective aquaponics solution by providing an automation for detecting ammonia, nitrite and nitrate gas levels analyze and other parameters sensed in aquaponics through IoT technologies.

Human populations have been able to generate food through traditional farming and fishkeeping, but as societies expand, there is a decreasing amount of land for cultivation. Additionally, it is challenging to produce crops gradually because of climate change. These issues are addressed via aquaponics. Aquaponics is a system that includes both hydroponics and aquaculture. In this system, plants are grown soil-less, the waste water from the fishes grown are fed as food for the plants grown. To increase the productivity and yield of the crops through this system, here we are inducing Internet of Things (IoT) and solar energy. We are developing this system using IoT, to monitor pH, Temperature, Nitrification process, health of the fishes, the quality of the crops and to reduce manual monitoring using the electrical source. This paper aims to develop a minimal cost-effective aquaponics solution by providing an automation for detecting ammonia, nitrite and nitrate gas levels analyze and other parameters sensed in aquaponics through IoT technologies.

Este documento presenta la problemática de la disponibilidad de alimento ante la creciente población mundial, el impacto que tiene en el medio ambiente y en los sistemas de producción y las posibles alternativas de obtención de alimentos, entre las que se destaca la acuaponía. Partiendo de esta alternativa de solución al problema planteado, se detallan las razones para el desarrollo de un estudio de factibilidad y los beneficiarios de realizarlo. Los hitos del estudio se establecieron como los objetivos específicos y se realizaron seis estudios para llevar a cabo la evaluación de factibilidad, definida como el objetivo principal. Se establece el contexto general a través del marco conceptual y se describen los instrumentos a aplicar durante el desarrollo del trabajo en el diseño metodológico. Partiendo de este diseño, se realizaron los estudios: entorno y del sector, en el que se describe el contexto en el que se desarrollará el proyecto de acuaponía con el análisis PESTEL; el estudio de mercado, en el que a partir de una encuesta se definen las tendencias de consumo de la población objetivo, los productos a comercializar, los referentes y competidores, el rango posible de precios, la plaza y la estrategia para capturar a los clientes potenciales; el estudio técnico, en el que se establece la ubicación geográfica y se definen las dimensiones generales del proyecto; el estudio administrativo, que define el equipo de colaboradores, sus perfiles y funciones generales; el estudio legal, que expone los procedimientos a cumplir para crear y operar la empresa; finalmente, el estudio financiero que establece el presupuesto requerido y cómo será invertido, así como el estado de resultados proyectado, algunos indicadores financieros y se abordan escenarios más o menos favorables para determinar la factibilidad de llevar a cabo el proyecto., This document presents the food supply issues due the growing world population, the impact they have on the environment and the production systems, and the potential alternatives to produce foods, excelling aquaponics. Starting from this potential solution to the proposed problem, we detailed the reasons to conduct a feasibility study and its benefits. The milestones of the study were established as the specific objectives and six studies were developed as part of the feasibility evaluation, set as the main objective. The general context is established through the conceptual framework, and the instruments to be applied among this work were outlined in the methodological study. Starting from the methodological design, the studies were conducted: environment and industry study, to describe the context in which the aquaponics project will be located, using the PESTEL analysis; the market study to assess, based on a survey, the consumption trends of the target population, the products to be marketed, the competitors, the possible price ranges, the market places and the strategy to capture potential customers; the technical study, to determine the geographical location and the general size of the project; the administrative study, which defines the work team, their profiles and roles; the legal study, to describe the process to create and operate the company; and finally the financial study, to establish the required budget and how it will be invested, the projected income statement, some financial ratios and different scenarios were addressed to determine the feasibility of carrying out the project.

Human populations have been able to generate food through traditional farming and fishkeeping, but as societies expand, there is a decreasing amount of land for cultivation. Additionally, it is challenging to produce crops gradually because of climate change. These issues are addressed via aquaponics. Aquaponics is a system that includes both hydroponics and aquaculture. In this system, plants are grown soil-less, the waste water from the fishes grown are fed as food for the plants grown. To increase the productivity and yield of the crops through this system, here we are inducing Internet of Things (IoT) and solar energy. We are developing this system using IoT, to monitor pH, Temperature, Nitrification process, health of the fishes, the quality of the crops and to reduce manual monitoring using the electrical source. This paper aims to develop a minimal cost-effective aquaponics solution by providing an automation for detecting ammonia, nitrite and nitrate gas levels analyze and other parameters sensed in aquaponics through IoT technologies.

Aquaponics, a sustainable farming technique combining the principles of aquaculture and hydroponics, suffers from uncertainty in its optimal operating conditions, preventing large-scale adoption of this technology. Relying on experimentation or full-scale testing to address these uncertainties is an approach that is material, labor, time, and cost intensive. As a result, aquaponics would benefit from a complete computational model of the system. This would allow for information to be gained without long and expensive experiments, but rather with knowledge of system operations and a modeling software package. In this study, the Activated Sludge Model 1 (ASM1) matrix framework, traditionally used in the biological wastewater treatment industry to model bacterial metabolic processes, was extended to model fish (specifically tilapia) and lettuce growth. Individual models for each of the three components in an aquaponics system (bioreactor, hydroponic bed, and aquaculture tank) were developed using the ASM1 matrix approach and were implemented in BioWin software. Success was seen in extending the ASM1 matrix framework to lettuce and tilapia growth, with the individual models of these components replicating the S-shaped growth curve expected of these types of biomass. The separate model components for the bioreactor, hydroponic bed, and aquaculture tank were then integrated into a comprehensive model of the aquaponics system. A procedure was developed to run simulations that accounted for the difference in growth times of plants and fish, yielding six lettuce crops per crop of fish. Both lettuce and tilapia grew successfully in the integrated model; however, the model revealed that when xi the fish are at the fingerling stage, they don’t produce enough nitrogen to provide lettuce with sufficient nitrogen for growth. A model simulation showed that supplemental nitrate for the first 60 days upon startup can increase the number of viable lettuce crops from 4 to 6 in the firs

Aquaponics, a sustainable farming technique combining the principles of aquaculture and hydroponics, suffers from uncertainty in its optimal operating conditions, preventing large-scale adoption of this technology. Relying on experimentation or full-scale testing to address these uncertainties is an approach that is material, labor, time, and cost intensive. As a result, aquaponics would benefit from a complete computational model of the system. This would allow for information to be gained without long and expensive experiments, but rather with knowledge of system operations and a modeling software package. In this study, the Activated Sludge Model 1 (ASM1) matrix framework, traditionally used in the biological wastewater treatment industry to model bacterial metabolic processes, was extended to model fish (specifically tilapia) and lettuce growth. Individual models for each of the three components in an aquaponics system (bioreactor, hydroponic bed, and aquaculture tank) were developed using the ASM1 matrix approach and were implemented in BioWin software. Success was seen in extending the ASM1 matrix framework to lettuce and tilapia growth, with the individual models of these components replicating the S-shaped growth curve expected of these types of biomass. The separate model components for the bioreactor, hydroponic bed, and aquaculture tank were then integrated into a comprehensive model of the aquaponics system. A procedure was developed to run simulations that accounted for the difference in growth times of plants and fish, yielding six lettuce crops per crop of fish. Both lettuce and tilapia grew successfully in the integrated model; however, the model revealed that when xi the fish are at the fingerling stage, they don’t produce enough nitrogen to provide lettuce with sufficient nitrogen for growth. A model simulation showed that supplemental nitrate for the first 60 days upon startup can increase the number of viable lettuce crops from 4 to 6 in the firs

Dataset acquired for the study published in the article: “Suitability and optimization of FAO's small-scale aquaponics systems for joint production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and fish (Carassius auratus)”. This study evaluated the performance of three different small-scale aquaponic systems for the joint production of lettuce and Carassius auratus. The dataset presents the data acquired of the different variables for water quality, plant production and fish production.

Dataset acquired for the study published in the article: “Suitability and optimization of FAO's small-scale aquaponics systems for joint production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and fish (Carassius auratus)”. This study evaluated the performance of three different small-scale aquaponic systems for the joint production of lettuce and Carassius auratus. The dataset presents the data acquired of the different variables for water quality, plant production and fish production.

FLOCponics is an integrated agri-aquaculture system, in which water and nutrients from a biofloc-based fish culture are reused to fertilise soilless plants. This paper is the first modelling study that focuses on decoupled FLOCponics with the aim of investigating and discussing whether the integration of biofloc-based culture with soilless plant production increases the efficiency of food production in terms of resource use and by how much. For this purpose, a biofloc-based monoculture system with a total volume of the fish tanks of 15.2 m3, and a FLOCponics system with similar biofloc system and a planting area of 33.6 m2 was modelled. The simulation models of these reference systems were run for a period of five years, and water, nitrogen and total suspended solid balances in both systems were compared. In addition to this, various planting areas of the FLOCponics system were changed step-wise until the most suitable size was found. The results indicate that FLOCponics is 10% and 27% more efficient in using water and nitrogen, respectively, than the stand-alone biofloc system. Also, the integrated system results in a reduction of 10% in the amount of solids discharged. Optimisation of the planting area with respect to key model outputs led to an improved FLOCponics system, where the planting area of the system is expanded by a factor of 3.2. The findings presented in this study support the hypothesis that integrating a biofloc system with hydroponics makes biofloc-based fish culture more efficient in terms of resource use and wastes avoidance.

Aquaculture is an expanding industry, supplying closer to 50% of the total fish consumption. Commercialized fish production faces sustainability challenges which are important to address. Aquaponics uses wastewater from aquaculture to grow plants using hydroponics. This is a step towards making the industry more sustainable, but the practice is not straightforward. The plants and the fish thrive at different environmental conditions and not all plants can be grown using aquaponics. The aim of this study was to use literature to find a user-friendly evaluation method and to find suitable crops to grow in a juvenile Atlantic salmon aquaponic system in Iceland. This study used a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Method to compare the suitability of different crops for hydro- or aquaponics. The evaluation was based on the three sustainability pillars from the United Nations: economical sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability. An evaluation table was constructed, and three crops were compared for aquaponics in view of these sustainability pillars: basil, lettuce, and soybean. The crops were graded using a score function. The basil received the highest total score and was deemed most suitable for an aquaponic system where juvenile Atlantic salmon is farmed. The basil received a much higher grade in economical sustainability which resulted in it receiving the highest total grade. Lettuce scored the highest in social and environmental sustainability indicating that it is also suitable for aquaponic purposes. Soybean was found to be unsuitable at this point. A sensitivity analysis was performed in the form of “worst case scenario” using the lowest values found in the literature. It revealed that economic sustainability was a controlling factor for the final grading. The evaluation table itself was found to be easy to modify to the user’s needs where both subcategories and weights can be adjusted. It can be applied for other sustainability assess

Overfishing for fishmeal (FM) and oil (FO) has decimated populations, limiting their availability, inflating costs of fishmeal for commercial fish feeds worldwide. Incorporating insects as a protein source alongside, or in place of FM or FO, has the potential to increase food security globally in the future. This study evaluated the impact of insect meal (IM) substituted feeds with Tenebrio molitor, mealworm, on the growth rates of both fish and plants. One 12-week trial and one 17-week trial were conducted using T. molitor to produce fish feeds with 0% IM (control), 15% IM, and 25% IM substituted feeds for both. Each trial was performed with 6 separate coupled aquaponics systems (CAS) and both trials reared Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The first trial grew butter lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and the second trial grew Ethiopian kale (Brassica carinata), Georgia Southern collard greens (Brassica oleracea), and chickpeas (Sierra kabuli). The CASs for these trials were designed with deep water culture (DWC) beds and floating rafts. The first trial revealed no significant differences in the change of fish biomass between treatments (p ≥ 0.05), and the second trial had a significant difference between the control and 25% IM (p ≤ 0.05). In the first trial the plant biomass increases of the control and the 15% IM treatments were significantly different than the 25% IM treatment (p ≤ 0.05). In the second trial there was no significant difference in collard green biomass between treatments, but there was a significant increase in Ethiopian kale biomass gain from the 25% IM treatment compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). Lastly, there was a significant difference in chickpea production of viable seeds from tank 1, control, compared to all other CAS (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, these results support the potential for IM substituted feeds in aquaponics, and more research needs to be conducted in the future.

This study compared fish and plant growth rates when implementing a partial insect meal (IM) substituted feed. Two 12-week greenhouse studies with mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) feed substitutions of 0% (fishmeal control), 15%, and 25%, and Nile tilapia (Oreochrimis niloticus) were used in both trials. Butter lettuce (Lactuca sativa) was grown in the first trial. Ethiopian kale (Brassica carinata), collard greens (Georgia southern), and chickpea (Sierra kabuli) were grown in the second trial. Weekly water quality samples of macro and micronutrients were collected and analyzed. The study also considered capital investment, operating expenses, and revenue to determine economic feasibility based on production. In the first trial, there was no significant difference (p≤0.05) in the total fish biomass gained between the control and 15%IM treatments and between the 15%IM and 25%IM treatments. However, there was a significant difference (p≥0.05) in the total fish biomass gained between the control and 25%IM treatments. In the second trial, there was a significant difference (p≥0.05) between the control and 15%IM, but no significant difference (p≤0.05) between the control and 25%IM or the 15%IM and 25%IM. Hydroponic output varied over both trials as 15%IM produced the highest plant biomass in the first trial and 25%IM produced the most plant biomass in the second trial. Chickpea harvest data for the second trial is unavailable at this time as the chickpea are yet to fruit. Greenhouse operations were deemed to be unprofitable as annual revenue extrapolated from the first trial was only $1,600. Due to the use of smaller fish and the reduction in overall plant biomass in the second trial, annual revenue is expected to decrease. Capital costs for the greenhouse setup and the outdoor alternative were $17,000 and $44,500. Annual operating expenses were $12,700 and $5,400 for the greenhouse and outdoor alternative.

Introduction. Lettuce Cultivation (Lactuca sativa L.) with an aquaponic system can be used as an alternative to meet the food needs of the community in the midst of reduced agricultural land. The purpose of this research is to determine the types of fish that affect the growth and yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The types of fish used in this research were tilapia, catfish and goldfish measuring 6-8 cm with a stocking density of 20 individuals. The observation variables included number of leaves, chlorophyll and wet weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Methods. The research data were analyzed using One Way Anova Test and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Result and Analysis. The results showed that goldfish gave optimal results on the number of leaves and wet weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), while catfish gave optimal results on the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) chlorophyll. Discussion. The different types of fish have a significant effect on the number of leaves, chlorophyll content and wet weight of lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.). the goldfish treatment (P3) gives optimal result on the number of leaves and wet weight of lettuce plants, while catfish treatment (P2) gives optimal results on chlorophyll of lettuce plants in the NFT aquaponic system.

Aquaponics is a system of aquaculture that uses waste produced by farmed aquatic animals to supply nutrients to a hydroponic system for growing plants. The growth of Cannabis sativa in aquaponics systems displays the potential for well-managed aquaponic systems to produce a variety of crops. A small, commercial-style aquaponic system was used to test how nutrient management techniques impact the growth of Cannabis sativa in a decoupled aquaponics system. Treatments included: a recirculating treatment using aquaponic system effluent plus nutrient supplementation (AqRN), a flow-through treatment utilizing aquaponic system effluent (AqFT), a flow-through hydroponic treatment supplemented with aquaponic effluent (10% by volume) (AqHydro), and a flow-through hydroponic control treatment (Hydro). Following a 13-week growing trial, flower buds were harvested, dried, and cured to determine yields from each treatment. Cured samples (3g) were sent to a lab for analysis of cannabinoids and terpenes.Results show growing hemp in aquaponics systems can provide comparable yields to hydroponic systems. No significant difference in yield existed between AqHydro, Hydro, and AqFT treatments. The AqRN treatment showed a significantly lower trimmed yield and plants showed signs of stress and nutrient deficiency approaching the end of the trial. The AqFT produced fewer overall terpenes than the other treatments and may benefit from micro-nutrient supplementation. The AqHydro and Hydro treatments showed no significant difference in water quality or yield. However, the AqHydro treatment consumed less water, indicating that supplementation with aquaculture effluent has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of fertigation in hydroponics systems.

High salinity, nutrient imbalance, and pathogens are some of the challenges of closed soilless cultivation systems, e.g., those combining hydroponics (HP) with aquaculture effluents (AE). Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) can support plants to cope with stressing agents. To address these topics, lettuces were grown in soilless systems (20 boxes) at an electrical conductivity of around 4.2–5 mS/cm, following a full factorial design with two nutrient sources and five bacterial treatments. The nutrient sources were either organic (AE) or inorganic (HP); the treatments were either commercial PGPM or sludges of an aquaculture farm or of an urban wastewater treatment plant. Finally, half the plants were exposed to pathogen Pythium sp. After 61 days of culture, most of the differences between HP- and AE-plants could be attributed to the composition of the nutrient solutions. Nutrient imbalances, salinity, and the pathogen exposition did not cause severe damage, except for tip burn. Fresh weight was significantly higher in HP (177.8 g) than in AE (107.0 g), while the chlorophyll and flavonoid levels tended to be higher in AE. The leaf sodium and chlorine concentrations were higher than the values found in similar studies; however, AE plants contained a lower content of sodium and chlorine (35.0 and 21.5 mg/g dry weight) than the HP ones (44.6 and 28.6 mg/g dry weight). Many macro- and micronutrients in the AE-grown plants tended to be higher when the commercial PGPM or the sludges were administered, supporting the idea that those treatments contain a flora that helps to extract nutrients from organic sources. The study demonstrated that lettuce can be successfully cultured at relatively high salt concentration. To further investigate beneficial services such as nutrient extraction, salinity mitigation, and pathogen protection, we suggest administering bacterial communities of known composition, or single microbial strains. The study also showed that PGPM can be f

A potential change in climate and temperature could strongly affect weather-related crop losses. Using wastelands to grow crops in controlled greenhouse environments could improve global food security and preserve ecosystems. However, the impact of climate change on additional energy and water requirements of greenhouse-horticulture food production is still unknown. Using a greenhouse simulator for four locations (The Netherlands, Spain, Saudi Arabia and Namibia), we show that a rise in outdoor temperatures can be counterbalanced with a more intensive water-based cooling. Between 6.9% and 17.9%, more water is required in the worst-case scenario in the year 2100, while the yield quantity decreases by 3%–6% due to slightly deteriorating growth conditions within the greenhouse. Since cooling systems consume up to 90% of the total water use in desert greenhouses, saltwater cooling could play an essential role in increasing the efficiency and sustainability of greenhouse horticulture systems in arid regions. In this study, we investigate the economic and technical feasibility of such greenhouse systems on a larger scale and show the massive potential of these systems. The developed scenarios demonstrate considerable climate resilience, enabling the cultivation of fresh vegetables in arid and infertile regions both presently and in the future.

Human populations have been able to generate food through traditional farming and fishkeeping, but as societies expand, there is a decreasing amount of land for cultivation. Additionally, it is challenging to produce crops gradually because of climate change. These issues are addressed via aquaponics. Aquaponics is a system that includes both hydroponics and aquaculture. In this system, plants are grown soil-less, the waste water from the fishes grown are fed as food for the plants grown. To increase the productivity and yield of the crops through this system, here we are inducing Internet of Things (IoT) and solar energy. We are developing this system using IoT, to monitor pH, Temperature, Nitrification process, health of the fishes, the quality of the crops and to reduce manual monitoring using the electrical source. This paper aims to develop a minimal cost-effective aquaponics solution by providing an automation for detecting ammonia, nitrite and nitrate gas levels analyze and other parameters sensed in aquaponics through IoT technologies.

Tesis por compendio, [ES] La presente tesis doctoral presentaba como principal objetivo contribuir al conocimiento sobre estrategias de alimentación y técnicas de producción que puedan mejorar la sostenibilidad del sector acuícola a través de un enfoque multidisciplinar, evaluando el crecimiento, la salud y la calidad sensorial de los peces, así como la producción de especies vegetales. También se evaluó El impacto ambiental de las diferentes propuestas mediante el análisis del Ciclo de Vida (LCA) como parte de la discusión general de la tesis. El primer estudio evaluó el efecto de la sustitución de diferentes niveles de aceite de pescado (FO) por aceites vegetales en piensos para la seriola mediterránea (Seriola dumerili, Risso, 1810) en el perfil de ácidos grasos (FA) de diferentes tejidos. El perfíl de FA de la grasa visceral, hígado, músculo rojo y blanco cambiaron cuando se modificó la fuente lipídica en el pienso, mientras que el perfíl de FA del tejido cerebro fue bastante resistente a su alteración por los cambios en la dieta. Estos nuevos datos podrían ayudar a evaluar si las funciones fisiológicas claves se conservan cuando los peces son alimentan con dietas con niveles bajos de FO, así como para definir las necesidades de FA en la dieta de la S. dumerili para mejorar la sostenibilidad de la producción y el bienestar de los peces. El segundo estudio evaluó los efectos de un periodo de realimentación en la composición de ácidos grasos en el músculo de la seriola mediterránea. Después de 109 días durante los cuales los peces fueron alimentados con un pienso a base de aceite de pescado (FO 100) o un pienso (FO 0) en la que el FO fue sustituido completamente por aceites vegetales, todos los peces alimentados con la dieta FO 0 fueron sometidos a una realimentamentación con un pienso FO 100, durante 90 días. Un recebo de 90 días puede mejorar parcialmente el perfil de FA en los músculos de la seriola mediterránea previamente alimentada con dietas a base de aceite vegetal.El tercero, [CA] La present tesi doctoral va tenir com a objectiu contribuir al coneixement sobre estratègies d'alimentació i tècniques de producció que puguin millorar la sostenibilitat del sector aqüícola a través d'un enfocament multidisciplinari, avaluant el creixement, la salut i la qualitat sensorial dels peixos, així com la producció de espècies vegetals. El impacte ambiental de les diferents propostes també es va avaluar mitjançant l'anàlisi de l'Cicle de Vida (LCA) com a part de la discussió general de la tesi. En el primer estudi es va avaluar la substitució de diferents nivells d'oli de peix per olis vegetals en pinsos per a la seriola Mediterrània (Seriola dumerili, Risso, 1810) en el perfil d'àcids grassos (FA) de diferents teixits. El segon estudi es van avaluar els efectes d'un període de realimentació en la composició d'àcids grassos en el múscul de la seriola mediterrània. Un rentat de 90 dies pot millorar parcialment el perfil de FA en els músculs de la seriola mediterrània prèviament alimentada amb dietes a base d'oli vegetal. El tercer estudi va estudiar els efectes de dues densitats de producció (baixa - ALD, 3,81 kg m-3 enfront de alta - AHD, 7,26 kg m-3) sobre el creixement, la salut i la qualitat de la carn de la truita (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792) i el rendiment i qualitat microbiològica de l'enciam (Lactuca sativa, L.) produïda en un sistema aquapònic de baixa tecnologia en comparació amb el cultiu hidropònic (HYP). En conclusió, les produccions de truita i enciam van tindre èxit en el sistema aquapònic provat, mentre que la densitat de població no va afectar al creixement dels peixos ni a la qualitat de la carn. En el quart estudi es va avaluar l'efecte de la substitució dietària de la farina de peix amb farina de Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), parcialment desgreixada (HI) sobre el creixement, la digestibilitat de l'aliment, la morfologia intestinal i la qualitat del filet de la truita produïda en un sistema aquapònic de baixa tecnologia, [EN] The present PhD thesis aimed at improving the knowledge on feeding strategies and rearing techniques that might improve the sustainability of the aquaculture sector through a multidisciplinary approach, evaluating fish growth performance, health and quality, and vegetable production. The environmental impact of the different solutions was also assessed using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis as a part of thesis general discussion. The first contribution evaluated how replacing different levels of fish oil by vegetable oils in the diet of Mediterranean yellowtail, Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810), affects the fatty acids (FA) signature, i.e. overall FA profile, in different tissues. The FA signatures of red and white muscle, liver, and visceral fat tissues changed when the dietary FA source changed, whereas FA signatures in the brain were rather robust to such dietary changes. The second contribution assessed the effects of a wash-out on the fatty acid composition in the muscles of Mediterranean yellowtail. A 90-d wash-out can partially improve the FA profile in muscles of Mediterranean yellowtail previously fed vegetable oil-based diets. The third contribution investigated the effects of two stocking densities (low - ALD, 3.81 kg m¿3 vs. high - AHD, 7.26 kg m¿3) on the growth, health, and flesh quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792) and the yield and microbiological quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa, L.) produced in a low-tech aquaponic system compared to hydroponic cultivation (HYP). Rainbow trout and lettuce productions were successful in the tested aquaponic system, whereas stocking density did not affect fish growth or flesh quality. The fourth contribution evaluated the effects of dietary substitution of fishmeal with partially defatted (Hermetia illucens, Linnaeus, 1758,) meal (HI) on the growth, feed digestibility, gut morphology, and fillet quality of rainbow trout reared in a low-tech aquaponic system fish growth and fillet qu

Tesis por compendio, [ES] La presente tesis doctoral presentaba como principal objetivo contribuir al conocimiento sobre estrategias de alimentación y técnicas de producción que puedan mejorar la sostenibilidad del sector acuícola a través de un enfoque multidisciplinar, evaluando el crecimiento, la salud y la calidad sensorial de los peces, así como la producción de especies vegetales. También se evaluó El impacto ambiental de las diferentes propuestas mediante el análisis del Ciclo de Vida (LCA) como parte de la discusión general de la tesis. El primer estudio evaluó el efecto de la sustitución de diferentes niveles de aceite de pescado (FO) por aceites vegetales en piensos para la seriola mediterránea (Seriola dumerili, Risso, 1810) en el perfil de ácidos grasos (FA) de diferentes tejidos. El perfíl de FA de la grasa visceral, hígado, músculo rojo y blanco cambiaron cuando se modificó la fuente lipídica en el pienso, mientras que el perfíl de FA del tejido cerebro fue bastante resistente a su alteración por los cambios en la dieta. Estos nuevos datos podrían ayudar a evaluar si las funciones fisiológicas claves se conservan cuando los peces son alimentan con dietas con niveles bajos de FO, así como para definir las necesidades de FA en la dieta de la S. dumerili para mejorar la sostenibilidad de la producción y el bienestar de los peces. El segundo estudio evaluó los efectos de un periodo de realimentación en la composición de ácidos grasos en el músculo de la seriola mediterránea. Después de 109 días durante los cuales los peces fueron alimentados con un pienso a base de aceite de pescado (FO 100) o un pienso (FO 0) en la que el FO fue sustituido completamente por aceites vegetales, todos los peces alimentados con la dieta FO 0 fueron sometidos a una realimentamentación con un pienso FO 100, durante 90 días. Un recebo de 90 días puede mejorar parcialmente el perfil de FA en los músculos de la seriola mediterránea previamente alimentada con dietas a base de aceite vegetal.El tercero, [CA] La present tesi doctoral va tenir com a objectiu contribuir al coneixement sobre estratègies d'alimentació i tècniques de producció que puguin millorar la sostenibilitat del sector aqüícola a través d'un enfocament multidisciplinari, avaluant el creixement, la salut i la qualitat sensorial dels peixos, així com la producció de espècies vegetals. El impacte ambiental de les diferents propostes també es va avaluar mitjançant l'anàlisi de l'Cicle de Vida (LCA) com a part de la discussió general de la tesi. En el primer estudi es va avaluar la substitució de diferents nivells d'oli de peix per olis vegetals en pinsos per a la seriola Mediterrània (Seriola dumerili, Risso, 1810) en el perfil d'àcids grassos (FA) de diferents teixits. El segon estudi es van avaluar els efectes d'un període de realimentació en la composició d'àcids grassos en el múscul de la seriola mediterrània. Un rentat de 90 dies pot millorar parcialment el perfil de FA en els músculs de la seriola mediterrània prèviament alimentada amb dietes a base d'oli vegetal. El tercer estudi va estudiar els efectes de dues densitats de producció (baixa - ALD, 3,81 kg m-3 enfront de alta - AHD, 7,26 kg m-3) sobre el creixement, la salut i la qualitat de la carn de la truita (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792) i el rendiment i qualitat microbiològica de l'enciam (Lactuca sativa, L.) produïda en un sistema aquapònic de baixa tecnologia en comparació amb el cultiu hidropònic (HYP). En conclusió, les produccions de truita i enciam van tindre èxit en el sistema aquapònic provat, mentre que la densitat de població no va afectar al creixement dels peixos ni a la qualitat de la carn. En el quart estudi es va avaluar l'efecte de la substitució dietària de la farina de peix amb farina de Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), parcialment desgreixada (HI) sobre el creixement, la digestibilitat de l'aliment, la morfologia intestinal i la qualitat del filet de la truita produïda en un sistema aquapònic de baixa tecnologia, [EN] The present PhD thesis aimed at improving the knowledge on feeding strategies and rearing techniques that might improve the sustainability of the aquaculture sector through a multidisciplinary approach, evaluating fish growth performance, health and quality, and vegetable production. The environmental impact of the different solutions was also assessed using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis as a part of thesis general discussion. The first contribution evaluated how replacing different levels of fish oil by vegetable oils in the diet of Mediterranean yellowtail, Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810), affects the fatty acids (FA) signature, i.e. overall FA profile, in different tissues. The FA signatures of red and white muscle, liver, and visceral fat tissues changed when the dietary FA source changed, whereas FA signatures in the brain were rather robust to such dietary changes. The second contribution assessed the effects of a wash-out on the fatty acid composition in the muscles of Mediterranean yellowtail. A 90-d wash-out can partially improve the FA profile in muscles of Mediterranean yellowtail previously fed vegetable oil-based diets. The third contribution investigated the effects of two stocking densities (low - ALD, 3.81 kg m¿3 vs. high - AHD, 7.26 kg m¿3) on the growth, health, and flesh quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792) and the yield and microbiological quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa, L.) produced in a low-tech aquaponic system compared to hydroponic cultivation (HYP). Rainbow trout and lettuce productions were successful in the tested aquaponic system, whereas stocking density did not affect fish growth or flesh quality. The fourth contribution evaluated the effects of dietary substitution of fishmeal with partially defatted (Hermetia illucens, Linnaeus, 1758,) meal (HI) on the growth, feed digestibility, gut morphology, and fillet quality of rainbow trout reared in a low-tech aquaponic system fish growth and fillet qu

With the general objective of optimizing internal nutrient recycling, circular multitrophic food production systems, e.g., combining fish, plant, and insect larvae production, rely on the quality and composition of sustainable nutritional inputs. Therefore, differences in dissolved and solid nutrient excretion patterns produced by Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with 5% daily water exchange and fed black soldier fly meal (BSFM), poultry by-product meal (PM), poultry blood meal (PBM) and fish meal (FM) as single protein sources were investigated to evaluate the potential for creating specific fish meal-free diets. Fish fed the FM and PM diet showed the significantly best (p < 0.05) and among each other similar (p > 0.05) growth performance (specific growth rate (SGR): 2.12 ± 0.04/2.05 ± 0.11; feed conversion ratio (FCR): 0.86 ± 0.03/0.92 ± 0.01), whereas the PBM diet caused significantly reduced performance (SGR: 1.30 ± 0.02; FCR: 1.79 ± 0.05) in comparison to the FM/PM diet as well as the BSF diet (SGR: 1.76 ± 0.07; FCR: 1.11 ± 0.05). The FM and PM diet resulted in a faster increase and significantly higher dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus levels, while the BSF diet caused faster accumulation and significantly elevated levels of dissolved potassium, magnesium, and copper. The PBM diet resulted in the feces with the significantly highest nutrient density (gross energy, crude protein, and amino acids) but overall much lower dissolved nutrient levels in the water. Results are discussed with regard to implications for developing circular multitrophic food production systems., Peer Reviewed

This project focuses on sustainable production. The monocultural large-scale agriculture and forestry contributes with great strain on nature in the form of deforestation and eutrophication. At the same time, production is a central part of rural supply, and inthe extension also for all residents of the country. Unlike the city where demand drives land prices to such an extent that it pays to build vertically, the typology of the countryside is rather characterized by the opposite. Still, the relatively low land value in the countryside is so important for the ecological and economic sustainability of the whole country. What would happen if we priced the ecological values in evaluation of rural land prices, could it also be possible to build vertically even there? With this as a starting point, I have designed a vertical aquaponic cultivation tower, which produces both vegetables and crops, but also fish and energy. The tower is clad with both solar cells and solar panels, which ensures a sustainable self-sufficient energy supply, while excess energy can also supply surrounding buildings and businesses. In this project, I have replaced a 110 ha large cultivation area with vertical cultivation towers corresponding to the same production capacity in crops but which to the surface only occupy 1.1 ha. My idea with the saved land is to allow it to return to nature, primeval forest in the long run. In addition to the obvious ecological benefits, a changed use of land can enable a place for recreation in the middle of this “tower forest”, something that the classic arable farming rarely allows to any great extent., I detta tredje och avslutande projekt här i Alberga har jag tagit avstamp i en av demest centrala utmaningarna för landsbygden. Detta handlar om hållbar produktion.Av Sveriges totala landyta brukas idag 8 % av marken för jordbruk, att jämföramed den bebyggda ytan på 3 %. Ytterligare ca 62 % nyttjas för skogsbruk. (SCB,Markanvändningen i Sverige). Det monokulturella storskaliga jord och skogsbruketbidrar med stora påfrestningar för naturen i form av avskogning och övergödning.Samtidigt är produktionen en central del av landsbygdens försörjning, och iförlängningen även för alla landets invånare. Till skillnad från i staden där efterfrågan driver markpriser i en sådan grad att detlönar sig att bygga på höjden är landsbygdens typologi snarare kännetecknad av detmotsatta. Ändå är den relativt lågt värderade marken på landsbygden så viktig förden ekologiska och ekonomiska hållbarheten för hela landet. Vad skulle hända om viprisade in de ekologiska värdena i landsbygdens markpriser, skulle det då kunna lönasig att även där bygga på höjden? Med detta som utgångspunkt har jag utformat ett vertikalt aquaponiskt odlingstorn, som både producerar grönsaker och grödor, men även fisk och energi. Tornet är klätt med både solceller och solpaneler vilket säkerställer en hållbar självförsörjande energitillgång, samtidigt som överskott av energi även kan förse omkringliggande bebyggelse och verksamheter. I detta projekt har jag ersatt ett 110 ha stort odlingsareal med vertikala odlingstorn motsvarande samma produktionskapacitet i grödor men som till ytan bara upptar 1,1 ha. Min tanke med den bespararade marken är att tillåta den återgå till skog, urskog på lång sikt.Förutom de uppenbara ekologiska fördelarna så kan även den ändrade markanvändingenmöjliggöra en plats för rekreation mitt i odlingstornsskogen, något som det klassiskaåkerjordbruket sällan tillåter i någon större utsträckning.

This study explores the question of how soil-less agriculture through hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics can empower smallholder farmers to achieve food sovereignty as portrayed in documentaries. It addresses the power imbalance between large corporations and smallholder farmers in the traditional agriculture industry. Documentary research approach is used to understand the various applications and research aspects of soil-less agriculture from around the world. Real-life examples from different countries where these methods have been successfully implemented in the agriculture industry, ranging from large industrial settings to smallholder farmers in disadvantaged communities, are analyzed. Further, content analysis is done on these documents by constructing a matrix that combines the process of empowerment and the six pillars of food sovereignty to analyze the different forms of empowerment. The study also investigates how the use of soil-less agriculture can build capabilities through enhanced “well-being freedom” and “agency freedom” and empower smallholder farmers to achieve food sovereignty.

This project focuses on sustainable production. The monocultural large-scale agriculture and forestry contributes with great strain on nature in the form of deforestation and eutrophication. At the same time, production is a central part of rural supply, and inthe extension also for all residents of the country. Unlike the city where demand drives land prices to such an extent that it pays to build vertically, the typology of the countryside is rather characterized by the opposite. Still, the relatively low land value in the countryside is so important for the ecological and economic sustainability of the whole country. What would happen if we priced the ecological values in evaluation of rural land prices, could it also be possible to build vertically even there? With this as a starting point, I have designed a vertical aquaponic cultivation tower, which produces both vegetables and crops, but also fish and energy. The tower is clad with both solar cells and solar panels, which ensures a sustainable self-sufficient energy supply, while excess energy can also supply surrounding buildings and businesses. In this project, I have replaced a 110 ha large cultivation area with vertical cultivation towers corresponding to the same production capacity in crops but which to the surface only occupy 1.1 ha. My idea with the saved land is to allow it to return to nature, primeval forest in the long run. In addition to the obvious ecological benefits, a changed use of land can enable a place for recreation in the middle of this “tower forest”, something that the classic arable farming rarely allows to any great extent., I detta tredje och avslutande projekt här i Alberga har jag tagit avstamp i en av demest centrala utmaningarna för landsbygden. Detta handlar om hållbar produktion.Av Sveriges totala landyta brukas idag 8 % av marken för jordbruk, att jämföramed den bebyggda ytan på 3 %. Ytterligare ca 62 % nyttjas för skogsbruk. (SCB,Markanvändningen i Sverige). Det monokulturella storskaliga jord och skogsbruketbidrar med stora påfrestningar för naturen i form av avskogning och övergödning.Samtidigt är produktionen en central del av landsbygdens försörjning, och iförlängningen även för alla landets invånare. Till skillnad från i staden där efterfrågan driver markpriser i en sådan grad att detlönar sig att bygga på höjden är landsbygdens typologi snarare kännetecknad av detmotsatta. Ändå är den relativt lågt värderade marken på landsbygden så viktig förden ekologiska och ekonomiska hållbarheten för hela landet. Vad skulle hända om viprisade in de ekologiska värdena i landsbygdens markpriser, skulle det då kunna lönasig att även där bygga på höjden? Med detta som utgångspunkt har jag utformat ett vertikalt aquaponiskt odlingstorn, som både producerar grönsaker och grödor, men även fisk och energi. Tornet är klätt med både solceller och solpaneler vilket säkerställer en hållbar självförsörjande energitillgång, samtidigt som överskott av energi även kan förse omkringliggande bebyggelse och verksamheter. I detta projekt har jag ersatt ett 110 ha stort odlingsareal med vertikala odlingstorn motsvarande samma produktionskapacitet i grödor men som till ytan bara upptar 1,1 ha. Min tanke med den bespararade marken är att tillåta den återgå till skog, urskog på lång sikt.Förutom de uppenbara ekologiska fördelarna så kan även den ändrade markanvändingenmöjliggöra en plats för rekreation mitt i odlingstornsskogen, något som det klassiskaåkerjordbruket sällan tillåter i någon större utsträckning.

Resources such as fertile soil and clean water are already limited in many parts of the world. Additionally, the conventional use of arable land is becoming increasingly difficult, which is further exacerbated by climate change. Soilless cultivation systems do not only offer the opportunity to save water and cultivate without soil but also the chance to open up urban areas such as residential rooftops for food production in close proximity to consumers. In this review, applications of soilless farming systems are identified and compared to conventional agriculture. Furthermore, aspects of economic viability, sustainability and current developments are investigated. An insight into the most important soilless farming systems—hydroponics, aquaponics and vertical farming—is provided. The systems are then differentiated from each other and, as far as possible, evaluated in terms of their environmental impact and compared with conventional cultivation methods. Comparing published data analyzing the yield of hydroponic cultivation systems in comparison to soil-based cultivation methods enables a basic overview of the profitability of both methods and, thus, lays the foundation for future research and practical applications. The most important inert substrates for hydroponic applications are presented, and their degree of sustainability is compared in order to emphasize environmental impacts and affect substrate selections of future projects. Based on an assessment of the most important soilless cultivation systems, the challenges and developments of current techniques are highlighted and discussed.

This study explores the question of how soil-less agriculture through hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics can empower smallholder farmers to achieve food sovereignty as portrayed in documentaries. It addresses the power imbalance between large corporations and smallholder farmers in the traditional agriculture industry. Documentary research approach is used to understand the various applications and research aspects of soil-less agriculture from around the world. Real-life examples from different countries where these methods have been successfully implemented in the agriculture industry, ranging from large industrial settings to smallholder farmers in disadvantaged communities, are analyzed. Further, content analysis is done on these documents by constructing a matrix that combines the process of empowerment and the six pillars of food sovereignty to analyze the different forms of empowerment. The study also investigates how the use of soil-less agriculture can build capabilities through enhanced “well-being freedom” and “agency freedom” and empower smallholder farmers to achieve food sovereignty.

Aquaponics is gaining renewed interest to enhance food security. This study aimed to investigate the performance of a novel off-grid aquaponics system with near-zero water and waste discharge, focusing on the carbon cycle and energy recovery that was achieved by the addition of onsite anaerobic treatment of the solid waste streams. Following a stabilization stage, the system was closely monitored for four months. Fish tank water was recirculated via solid and nitrification reactors, from which 66% was recycled to the fish tank directly and 34% indirectly through the hydroponically grown plants. Fish solid waste was anaerobically treated, energy was recovered, and the nutrient-rich supernatant was recycled to the plants to enhance production. Plant waste was also digested anaerobically for further recovery of energy and nutrients. Fish stocking density was 15.3 and over time reached approximately 40 kg/m3 where it was maintained. Feed (45% protein content) was applied daily at 2% of body weight. Typical fish performance was observed with a survival rate >97% and feed conversion ratio of 1.33. Lettuce production was up to 5.65 kg/m2, significantly higher than previous reports, largely because of high nutrients reuse efficiency from the anaerobic supernatant that contained 130 and 34 mg/L N and P, respectively. Of the feed carbon, 24.5% was taken up by fish biomass. Fish solid wastes contained 38.2% carbon, of which 91.9% was recovered as biogas (74.5% CH4). Biogas production was 0.84 m3/kg for fish sludge and 0.67 m3/kg for dry plant material. CO2 sequestration was 1.4 higher than the feed carbon, which reduced the system's carbon footprint by 64%. This study is the first to demonstrate highly efficient fish and plant production with near-zero water and waste discharge and with energy recovery that can potentially supply the system's energy demand.

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food sectors in the world, and the increasing world population is said to only increase the need for more seafood. However, the sustainability of the aquaculture has been questioned recently and measures have been taken to overcome and internalize the negative externalities. These externalities include eutrophication of water bodies, the various impact of wildlife, disease transfer, and water source pollution. With the rising concerns of the open cage aquacultural systems, there has been rising interest in the Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) which use a closely controlled environment to grow fish. One example of this is aquaponics which is defined as an integrated system where two elements of recirculating aquaculture and hydroponics are combined. This system of integration allows some of the shortcomings of aquaculture and hydroponics to be addressed promising to be a sustainable food production method. However, research within the area of aquaponics is mostly focusing on technical perspectives such as the engineering aspect as well as the microbiology. There are few existing commercial aquaponics businesses known in Sweden and very little knowledge about how the aquaponic business model is developed in practice. The aim of this research is therefore to explore the early development business model of aquaponics in Sweden and how it can be conceptualized as a sustainable business model. A qualitative method was chosen to collect the data where the unit of analysis is individual units. The people that are used as the unit of analysis are individuals with expertise in the field either from research or practice as well as policies that govern this area. This explorative study of aquaponics found aquaponics to be a promising innovation for sustainable food production and a learning curve in the process of sustainability. However, its growth in Sweden is underdeveloped and a paradox. Understanding this weakness in the gro

With the general objective of optimizing internal nutrient recycling, circular multitrophic food production systems, e.g., combining fish, plant, and insect larvae production, rely on the quality and composition of sustainable nutritional inputs. Therefore, differences in dissolved and solid nutrient excretion patterns produced by Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with 5% daily water exchange and fed black soldier fly meal (BSFM), poultry by-product meal (PM), poultry blood meal (PBM) and fish meal (FM) as single protein sources were investigated to evaluate the potential for creating specific fish meal-free diets. Fish fed the FM and PM diet showed the significantly best (p < 0.05) and among each other similar (p > 0.05) growth performance (specific growth rate (SGR): 2.12 ± 0.04/2.05 ± 0.11; feed conversion ratio (FCR): 0.86 ± 0.03/0.92 ± 0.01), whereas the PBM diet caused significantly reduced performance (SGR: 1.30 ± 0.02; FCR: 1.79 ± 0.05) in comparison to the FM/PM diet as well as the BSF diet (SGR: 1.76 ± 0.07; FCR: 1.11 ± 0.05). The FM and PM diet resulted in a faster increase and significantly higher dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus levels, while the BSF diet caused faster accumulation and significantly elevated levels of dissolved potassium, magnesium, and copper. The PBM diet resulted in the feces with the significantly highest nutrient density (gross energy, crude protein, and amino acids) but overall much lower dissolved nutrient levels in the water. Results are discussed with regard to implications for developing circular multitrophic food production systems., Peer Reviewed

In aquaponics and circular multitrophic food production systems, dietary protein source, as well as fish species choice, particularly in cases of different nutritional physiology, could be factors affecting excreted nutrient profiles. Accordingly, growth performance, dissolved nutrient accumulation and feces nutrient profiles were evaluated for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) reared in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and fed single protein source diets based on black soldier fly larvae meal (BSF), poultry by-product meal (PM), poultry blood meal (PBM) and fish meal (FM) and the results were compared to previous findings for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). All diets resulted in significantly different growth performances of African catfish, with FM producing the best growth performance, followed by PM, BSF and PBM. PM resulted in the highest soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations (SRP) in the RAS water; whereas, BSF resulted in the highest K, Mg and Cu concentrations. The highest feces nutrient density was recorded for PBM; whereas, FM and PM yielded the lowest feces nutrient density. Comparing African catfish to Nile tilapia revealed that the former showed significantly better growth performance with FM and PM, however, significantly weaker performance with BSF. Although dissolved K accumulation was similar between species across diets, significant differences were recorded for total inorganic nitrogen and SRP production per unit of feed for individual diets. Despite similar feces nutrient profiles, African catfish produce significantly less feces dry matter per unit of feed for each diet compared to Nile tilapia. Findings are discussed regarding their implications for aquafeed development in the context of circular multitrophic food production systems., the Federal Ministry of Education and Research/PtJ Project Management Agency as part of Agricultural Systems of the Future (CUBES Circle), Peer Reviewed

Aquaponics combines hydroponic crop production with recirculating aquaculture. These systems comprise various compartments (fish tank, biofilter, sump, hydroponic table, radial flow settler and anaerobic digester), each with their own specific environmental pressures, which trigger the formation of unique microbial communities. Triplicated aquaponic systems were used to investigate the microbial community composition during three lettuce growing cycles. The sampling of individual compartments allowed community patterns to be generated using amplicon sequencing of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes. Nitrifying bacteria were identified in the hydroponic compartments, indicating that these compartments may play a larger role than previously thought in the system's nitrogen cycle. In addition to the observed temporal changes in community compositions within the anaerobic compartment, more archaeal reads were obtained from sludge samples than from the aerobic part of the system. Lower bacterial diversity was observed in fresh fish feces, where a highly discrete gut flora composition was seen. Finally, the most pronounced differences in microbial community compositions were observed between the aerobic and anaerobic loops of the system, with unique bacterial compositions in each individual compartment.

The role of the microbial community in mediating fish and plant co-culture is often considered the black box of aquaponics. Despite widespread recognition regarding the dependency of plants on their rhizosphere, the extent to which upstream aquaculture influences downstream hydroponic root communities has been poorly described in the literature. In this study we performed a taxonomic survey (16S rRNA metabarcoding) of microbial communities originating in the facility water source, hydroponic nutrient solution (HNS) sump, nutrient supplemented biofilter effluent (BF) sump, and recirculating aquaculture system tanks stocked with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) was then grown using the HNS and BF effluent under sterilized or mature (prior aquaponics/hydroponics lettuce culture water) conditions, likewise, the influence of probiotic addition or inoculation with soil-grown lettuce rhizosphere was assessed. Compositional similarities across treatments suggest that under soil-less conditions, plants are able to exert a stronger discriminatory influence on their rhizosphere composition than is done by colonization from upstream sources. Furthermore, cluster dendrograms grouped the sterilized and unsterilized treatments more consistently together than hydroponics and aquaponics treatments. These findings contradict conventional beliefs that microbial communities in the water column colonize roots based on their presence alone, ignoring the role that plants play in rhizosphere community selection.

Several adoption models have been developed to explain the dynamics behind the uptake of new technologies in food-production systems. However, the literature has yet to consider a range of external forces that affect farmers’ decision-making processes. We argue that climate change and institutions are latent explanatory variables that require attention in the literature on aquatic-based innovations. Our aim is to conduct an ex-ante analysis focusing on these two external forces in the context of aquaculture and the adoption of aquaponics technology in Colombia. We use an embedded case-study design incorporating a qualitative and exploratory approach and employ two categories of fish-farming production systems as units of analysis. We triangulate our findings using non-probability sampling techniques and use our findings as a benchmark to discuss the potential adoption of aquaponics technology. Our findings suggest that fluctuations in rainfall and drought are the most important climate variables influencing negatively fish farming activities. Furthermore, we find that the complex institutional structures involved create unequal informal mechanisms among fish-farming production systems. We argue for context-specific designs when considering the adoption of aquaponics and conclude that, while fish-farming production systems encounter these external forces differently, heterogeneity also exists within systems, revealing intricacies worth considering.

FLOCponics is an alternative type of aquaponics that integrates biofloc technology (BFT) with soilless plant production. The aims of this paper are to present a detailed overview of the FLOCponics system's designs and performance, discuss their sustainability, highlight the current challenges, and give directions for future research. Data sources include papers containing the keywords bioflocs and hydroponics, aquaponics and/or plant production. In view of the small number of publications and the lack of standardization in experimental design and system setup, it was concluded that FLOCponics is still in its initial research stage. With respect to the animal and plant yields in FLOCponics, inconsistent results were found. Some investigations presented better or similar yield results in this system compared to traditional cultures, while others found the opposite. One of the key challenges of using FLOCponics is the effective control of solids. Refining the system's design was the main recommended improvement. Moreover, this paper highlights that the commercial application of FLOCponics will require extensive research that clarifies its technical and economic aspects, originating from experimental or pilot-scale setups with characteristics similar to commercial production. This review provides and discusses information that can be useful for the effective development of FLOCponics, guiding further research to make FLOCponics commercially feasible and thus contributing to sustainable aquaculture production.

The aquaponic principle is the coupling of animal aquaculture (e.g. fish) with plant production (e.g. vegetables) for saving resources. At present, various definitions of aquaponics exist, some bearing the risk of misinterpretation by dismissing the original meaning or being contradictory. In addition, there is no standard terminology for the aspects of coupling between the aquaponic subsystems. In this study, we addressed both issues. (1) We developed new or revised definitions that are summarised by: Aquaponic farming comprises aquaponics (which couples tank-based animal aquaculture with hydroponics) and trans-aquaponics, which extends aquaponics to tankless aquaculture as well as non-hydroponics plant cultivation methods. Within our conceptual system, the term aquaponics corresponds to the definitions of FAO and EU. (2) A system analysis approach was utilised to explore different aquaponic setups aiming to better describe the way aquaponic subsystems are connected. We introduced the new terms ‘coupling type’ and ‘coupling degree’, where the former qualitatively characterises the water-mediated connections of aquaponic subsystems. A system with on-demand nutrient water supply for the independent operating plant cultivation is an ‘on-demand coupled system’ and we propose to deprecate the counterintuitive term ‘decoupled system’ for this coupling type. The coupling degree comprises a set of parameters to quantitatively determine the coupling's efficiency of internal streams, for example, water and nutrients. This new framework forms a basis for improved communication, provides a uniform metric for comparing aquaponic facilities, and offers criteria for facility optimisation. In future system descriptions, it will simplify evaluation of the coupling's contribution to sustainability of aquaponics.

Efficient energy and resource management are essential for a more sustainable food production system. On-demand coupled multi-loop aquaponics, containing at least a fish, plant and anaerobic digester unit, has shown great potential for optimizing nutrient use. However, balancing the nutrients for both fish and crop production becomes increasingly complex at higher latitudes. In these areas also significant reductions in energy use are required. Hitherto, the effects of energy-saving strategies on the dynamics of an aquaponics system have not been explored. The objective of the study was to investigate and mathematically model an aquaculture-hydroponic (aquaponics) system with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) or tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and to verify it for the Netherlands. In the mathematical model several physical and operational parameters were varied to find their influence on water and nutrient use efficiency, energy use and the growing environment, in particular in the greenhouse. The variation in crop transpiration was found to be a simple, yet effective, indicator for the influence of greenhouse settings on the performance of on-demand coupled multi-loop aquaponics systems. The correlation between water or nutrient use efficiencies and transpiration variation (0.98) is stronger than the correlation with energy use (0.78). The maximum allowed humidity (70% to 90%) and use of artificial lighting (0 – 200 W/m2) has the largest effect on both performance and energy use. Other settings, such as inclusion of thermal insulation of the cover, minimum temperature, addition of heat storage, and use of screens, have effect on the energy efficiency, but have little effect on the nutrient dynamics. To counter the negative effects of variation caused by other energy-saving strategies or climatic variations, the use of a buffer tank, placed between anaerobic digester and hydroponic system, was found a feasible option. Aquaponi

Aquaponic food production requires a broad spectrum of knowledge in order to understand and manage the processes involved, and for commercial aquaponics to develop its full potential, it will require an appropriately trained workforce. Devised in collaboration as an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership for Higher Education, Aqu@teach covers the basics of aquaponics with a focus on transferable and entrepreneurial skills. The aquaponics curriculum can either be taught using blended learning - combining digital media and the internet with classroom formats that require the physical co-presence of the teacher and students - or as an e-learning course. The supplementary entrepreneurial skills module was devised on the basis of two surveys: of aquaponics companies around the world, in order to get a broad overview of the skills that are important in the early years of a business; and of European higher education institutions that teach subjects where aquaponics could be incorporated as an optional module. The entrepreneurial skills curriculum introduces the main processes involved in developing a business idea into a start-up company. All of the Aqu@teach resources - the e-learning modules, textbooks, module guides for students, curriculum guides for teachers, best practice guide for teaching aquaponics, and toolbox of innovative didactic practices - are open access.

Aquaponic food production requires a broad spectrum of knowledge in order to understand and manage the processes involved, and for commercial aquaponics to develop its full potential, it will require an appropriately trained workforce. Devised in collaboration as an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership for Higher Education, Aqu@teach covers the basics of aquaponics with a focus on transferable and entrepreneurial skills. The aquaponics curriculum can either be taught using blended learning - combining digital media and the internet with classroom formats that require the physical co-presence of the teacher and students - or as an e-learning course. The supplementary entrepreneurial skills module was devised on the basis of two surveys: of aquaponics companies around the world, in order to get a broad overview of the skills that are important in the early years of a business; and of European higher education institutions that teach subjects where aquaponics could be incorporated as an optional module. The entrepreneurial skills curriculum introduces the main processes involved in developing a business idea into a start-up company. All of the Aqu@teach resources - the e-learning modules, textbooks, module guides for students, curriculum guides for teachers, best practice guide for teaching aquaponics, and toolbox of innovative didactic practices - are open access.

The paper gives an overview on the progress of the construction of a database of the pesticides that pose minimum risk when applied in an aquaponic system. Aquaponics is a developing food production system that integrates recirculating aquaculture (raising fish and other aquatic animals in closed systems) and hydroponics (plant production in water culture without soil) by using the fish waste as plant nutrient. Fish are highly sensitive to their environment, especially toxic chemicals: pesticides and other pest-controlling agents causing minimum perturbation in aquaponic systems have to be selected with an ecotoxicological approach.

This open access book, written by world experts in aquaponics and related technologies, provides the authoritative and comprehensive overview of the key aquaculture and hydroponic and other integrated systems, socio-economic and environmental aspects. Aquaponic systems, which combine aquaculture and vegetable food production offer alternative technology solutions for a world that is increasingly under stress through population growth, urbanisation, water shortages, land and soil degradation, environmental pollution, world hunger and climate change., Hydroponics is a method to grow crops without soil, and as such, these systems are added to aquaculture components to create aquaponics systems. Thus, together with the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), hydroponic production forms a key part of the aqua-agricultural system of aquaponics. Many different existing hydroponic technologies can be applied when designing aquaponics systems. This depends on the environmental and financial circumstances, the type of crop that is cultivated and the available space. This chapter provides an overview of different hydroponic types, including substrates, nutrients and nutrient solutions, and disinfection methods of the recirculating nutrient solutions.

This chapter provides an overview of possible strategies for implementing aquaponics in curricula at different levels of education, illustrated by case studies from different countries. Aquaponics can promote scientific literacy and provide a useful tool for teaching the natural sciences at all levels, from primary through to tertiary education. An aquaponics classroom model system can provide multiple ways of enriching classes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and the day-to-day maintenance of an aquaponics can also enable experiential learning. Aquaponics can thus become an enjoyable and effective way for learners to study STEM content, and can also be used for teaching subjects such as business and economics, and for addressing issues like sustainable development, environmental science, agriculture, food systems, and health. Using learner and teacher evaluations of the use of aquaponics at different educational levels, we attempt to answer the question of whether aquaponics fulfils its promise as an educational tool.

Aquaponic food production requires a broad spectrum of knowledge in order to understand and manage the processes involved, and for commercial aquaponics to develop its full potential, it will require an appropriately trained workforce. Devised in collaboration as an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership for Higher Education, Aqu@teach covers the basics of aquaponics with a focus on transferable and entrepreneurial skills. The Aqu@teach Textbook forms the basis of the curriculum.