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“There’s an aquaponic solution to every food problem” Andrew Chambi Founding Director of Aqua Roots Aquaponics- integrating aquaculture with crop production

“There’s an aquaponic solution to every food problem”

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“There’s an aquaponic solution to every food problem”. Aquaponics- integrating aquaculture with crop production. Andrew Chambi Founding Director of Aqua Roots. Presentation Overview. Issues in food production Agriculture industry, Aquaculture, Increasing food production Aquaponics - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

“There’s an aquaponic solution to every food problem”

Andrew ChambiFounding Director of Aqua Roots

Aquaponics- integrating aquaculture with crop

production

Page 2: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Presentation Overview• Issues in food production

• Agriculture industry, Aquaculture, Increasing food production

• Aquaponics• How it works, Economics of aquaponics,

Case for aquaponics, Existing models of aquaponics

• Types of aquaponic systems• Deep Water, NFT etc, System

components, Models, Versitility

• Some Examples

• Aqua Roots’ background

Page 3: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Global agriculture industry• Decreasing resource

availability:• Arable land available

per capita decreased by 40% between 1960 and 2000;

• Water demand increases by 64 billion cubic meters/year;

• agriculture accounts for 71% water withdrawals;

• By 2030, 47% of global population will be living under severe water stress

Page 4: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Global fisheries & aquaculture• Fish very important source of animal

protein – especially in low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs).

• Fish consumption has many health benefits:• Low fat, high protein content• Essential Omega 3 fatty acids• Vitamins D and B2

Page 5: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Global fisheries & aquaculture• Challenges to aquaculture industry

• Environmental degradation through water discharge and escapes

• Water supply and energy requirement• Biosecurity• Fishmeal based aquaculture feeds

Page 6: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Fish/rice culture

• Over 2,500 year old technique from India and Asia

• Rice provides a habitat for fish

• Rice helps purify the water• Fish eat insects and

circulate water• Fish provide nutrients for

rice • Crop diversity – cereal grain

and fish, crustaceans and water fowl.

Page 7: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Aquaculture/irrigation

• At least 2000 year old technique• Relevant in places with stored

irrigation water for terrestrial crops

• One way flow of water• Water is used twice – once for

fish, and once for plants• Fish wastes fertilise the water –

enhancing growth of downstream crops

• Presence of fish reduces pest and parasite organisms - mosquitos

Page 8: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

How aquaponics works• Aquaculture waste becomes hydroponic

nutrient• Hydroponic component removes nutrients

and filters water• Clean water returns to fish rearing tanks

12

3

Page 9: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Aquaponics• Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS)

• Water efficient• Supports high stocking densities• Requires high level of water filtration and

treatment• Creates nutrient rich effluent stream

• Hydroponic plant production• Water and space efficient• Does not require “agricultural land”• Allows complete control over plants – no weeds!• Nutrients supplied to plants in solution• Can create dangerous, high mineral content

waste stream

Page 10: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Economics of aquaponics• Plant growth the major component.• Uses 10% of the water of soil agriculture per unit

crop yield.• Low maintenance and management time

requirement.• Domestic systems can contribute greatly to food

security and household economies• West bank study revealed AP system could produce food

with a value 30 - 50% of the average daily salary in WB/Gaza respectively.

• Increases the variety and quality of food available• Commercial systems enable significant revenue

generation from “by-products”– Daily 1kg fish food 700g fish mass 8 lettuces

harvested

Page 11: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Case for aquaponics

• Space efficient • allows high stocking and planting densities.

• Water efficient • closed loop recirculating system.

• Clean • zero discharge; all waste processed and used on-site.

• Crop diversity • Plant and fish production.

• Biological system • no chemicals allowed.

• Versatile • can be implemented on micro to massive scale.• can make use of “non agricultural” land.

Page 12: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

System components

• Fish tank(s)• Plumbing• Water pump• Air pump• filter

Page 13: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Flood and drain

• Optimal growbed depth – 30cm• 3 zones: wet zone, tidal zone and dry zone

Page 14: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

DWC / floating raft

• Plants grown on floating sheets (styrofoam)• Roots in aerated water• Water depth 20-60cm• Constant depth – continual flow

• Roots can “suffocate” if water is not well filtered prior to DWC growbed

• Best suited to production of small, leafy crops

• Favoured commercial technique

Page 15: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Strawberry towers

• Not just for strawberries!

• Plants grown in vertical pipes• Volcanic rock, clay

beads, foam strips• Water trickles from

top to bottom• Continual flow

• Towers may clog if water is not well filtered

Page 16: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Wicking beds

• Hydroponic soil growing?• 15cm “wicking” reservoir at base• 20-30cm soil on top• Water moves up into soil by capillary action• Continual flow OR no flow

• Suitable for a wide variety of crops – including root crops

Page 17: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

System examples - mini

Page 18: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

System examples - mini

Page 19: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

System examples - large

Page 20: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

System examples - large

Page 21: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”
Page 22: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

42 days later…

Page 23: “There’s an  aquaponic solution  to every food problem”

Aqua Roots Background

History & Future• Setup by a team with a diverse background

• Six years successfully implementing domestic “backyard” and commercial systems in the UK, the Middle East and Africa.

• Teaching and lecturing mainstream science and community aquaponics.

• Aim to implement community based, high production systems in the UK.