AQUAPONICS: INTEGRATION BETWEEN AQUACULTURE AND HYDROPONICS

Abstract

The growing world population combined with the growing demand for water imposes enormous pressure on the sectors involved in food production. Sustainability is no longer a political or moral flag, sustentability has become a necessity. Aquaponics has been predominantly spread throughout the world through household-scale producers. Aquaponics is a method of producing food that involves the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics in recirculating systems for water and nutrients. Furthermore, Aquaponics presents itself as a real alternative for the production of food with reduced impact to the environment for its sustainability characteristics. Thus, Aquaponics is among the sustainable techniques involving fish and vegetable integrated production, capable of benefiting both. This integration allows the plant to use the nutrients from the water provided by the fish, thus improving water quality.