Aquaponics - The Urban Food Revolution
Photo from Backyard Aquaponics.
Aquaponics, from a layperson’s point of view, is the merging of aquaculture and hydroponics into a process that seems to take all of the positives from the above production systems and leave the negatives far behind.
Basically, the process involves fish, plants and bacteria. The cycle consists of fish by-products (or to the less delicate … ‘poo’) being pumped into grow beds filled with gravel. Bacteria convert the ammonia from the ‘fish poo’ into nitrites and then other good bacteria convert the nitrites in nitrates, which are used by the plants as nutrients. The beauty of the system is that a balance occurs in the eco-system whereby the water is sufficiently filtered by the plants who inturn obtain all the necessary nutrients from the fish.
Those that wish to avoid chemicals in the growing process, will be relieved to know that anything poisonous used on the plants, will kill the fish. This ‘canary effect’ ensures that natural, chemical-free produce is the only alternative and depending on the fish feed used, ‘organic produce’ would seem quite possible. Those with a water supply problem, will be even happier to know that aquaponics uses approximately 10% of normal farming practices. Environmentally, aquaponics also stands out as there is no effluent discharge to dispose of. Consequently, a person committing aquaponics can achieve quite a constant warm buzz, as they know exactly what they are eating, whilst conserving a great deal of water.
