Integrating aquaponics systems with sustainable aquaculture for efficient food production

Abstract

The rapid growth of the global population, combined with the need for sustainable food production, is driving the expansion of aquaculture, one of the fastest-growing segments of the global food supply. For decades, aquaculture has used resources inefficiently, resulting in water waste and the creation and discharge of nutrient waste. The development of aquaponics, a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, enables nutrient and waste recycling within the system. The goal of this study is the integration of aquaponics systems with 'clean' sustainable aquaculture in a manner that utilizes resources efficiently and minimizes the negative impact of food production. A recirculating aquaponics system was created using tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) to study growth rates, nutrient cycles within the system, water quality, and overall system resource efficiency. The integrated system achieved a 30% reduction in water consumption for freshwater tilapia aquaculture while still attaining a 200g growth rate with a 90-day aquaculture cycle. The aquaponics system also sustained 12 kg/m2 of lettuce while recapturing 75% of the water as biomass and using fish waste to support internal nutrient cycling. These results point to the system as a viable approach to food production. These systems can result in lower negative environmental impacts and resource consumption while providing food to a high demand.