Aquaponics - ecological rearing of fish and cultivating plants

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Torstai 7.6.2018 klo 14.49 - Mikko Nikinmaa


There are several problems with food production. Classical agriculture inevitably leads to eutrophication of nearby waters. Meat production usually has a big carbon footprint. Transport of farming products causes carbon dioxide emissions. The mineral sources of the main fertilizer, phosphorous, are becoling exhausted. Transfer from meat production using homeotherms to aquaculture often causes eutrophication. As one solution to meat production growing insects for food has recently become fashionable. However, a major problem for large-scale utilization of insects as food is the mental aversion of consumers in the western world.

Similar problems are not associated with eating fish. Since similar amount of energy is needed for growing a kilogram of fish and insect flesh, utilizing fish as the source of animal protein is as sustainable as the use of insects. Thus, if one can grow fish so that the negative side effects are diminished, aquaculture can be quite sustainable. Aquaponics offers such a solution: recently one has begun cultivating plants without soil. If one combines this alternative with growing fish, the nutrients produced by fish are used to facilitate the growth of plants. In principle a fish restaurant can grow both fish and vegetables needed in the same building which houses the restaurant.  Such solution would solve all the problems with meat production, including the need for food transport. The principles of aquaponics have recently been reviewed by Palm et al. (Aquacult Int (2018) 26:813–842)

Avainsanat: nutrients, aquaculture, food production


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