Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY INVESTING IN OUR P L ANET What is aquaponics?
Aquaponics combines fish and plant farming in a land based, soilless system. The fish and plant components work together to create a profitable, efficient and sustainable farm.
In aquaponics farms, fish waste water is transformed by bacteria into fertilizer which is used by the plants for growth. The purified water is then recirculated back to the fish and the process restarts.
Benefits of aquaponics:
• Grows fish and plants in one system • Uses ten times less water than traditional farming • Uses less space and grow crops in less time than t rad itional agriculture • Removes the need for chemical fertilizers • Produces high quality crops for any market (e.g. tourism, restaurants, supermarkets, etc.) • Variety of plant species options (from romaine lettuce to specialty edible flowers) • Offer attractive agricultural opportunities to youths Things to consider before you get started: • Aquaponics requires dedication and learning about fish, plants, bacteria and farm management
Start up costs: • Aquaponics farms tend to be more expensive to start than traditional farms • Farm design is flexible but all parts of basic aquaponics designs serve a purpose • Some farm materials may not be available on-island; importation increases expenses • May need to import fish feed or seed depending on local availability and species preference • Opportunity to be an importer or distributor!
Access to electricity and water: • Must have reliable and affordable access to electricity and water • Water and electricity efficiency should be considered in farm design and management Aquaponics and climate change: The effects of climate change are felt in the Caribbean through increased temperatures, the rise of sea levels, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, and irregular wet and dry seasons. Aquaponics is a climate change resilient farming option for Caribbean plant and fish producers.
Climate change resilience: • Aquaponics does not rely on dry or wet seasons Aquaponics is more productive and uses less land and water than traditional agriculture Aquaponics can use otherwise unproductive land for food production • Increased resilience through: • Investment in renewable technologies, such as solar panels, for farm use • Investment in rain water harvesting systems
Managing impacts of extreme weather events: • Design farm with storm measures in mind • e.g. quick disassembly of shadehouse, ample storage for high value items etc. • Invest in a back-up generator to keep farm functioning even during a power outage • Ensure storm procedures are followed • e.g. fill fish tanks to the brim, harvest plants early, keep enough cash on hand for a quick restart and "'O 0 Ol return to production ·a;C: LL ~ @ Additional information: Managing pests: Pests are common but manageable in aquaponics farms through an approach known as integrated pest management (1PM): • All pest management must be non-chemical (organic) to protect fish and farm bacteria health • It's all about prevention. Use physical barriers such as fences and netting and prevent spread through sanitary management practices (e.g. use a clean water source and healthy seedlings, perform daily pest checks)
Next steps for prospective farmers:
⇒ Talk to your local government agencies responsible for fisheries and aquaculture; ⇒ Talk to local and regional aquaponics, hydroponics and fish farmers; ⇒ Participate in online tutorials, watch YouTube videos, and read available aquaponics manuals from FAO and reputable organizations like universities; ⇒ Develop a business plan; ⇒ Develop your aquaponics farm! More resources
FAO Small-Scale Aquaponics Handbook: www.fao.org/3/a-i4021 e.pdf Blue Growth Blog on Advancing Aqua ponies Workshop in Antigua: http://www.fao.org/blogs/blue-growth-blog/ advancing-aquaponics-in-the-caribbean/en/
The FAO, under the CC4FISH project, will produce the following documents for publication: • FAO Small-Scale Aquaponics Education Manual • FAO Aquaponics Business Plan Guide • FAO Aquaponics Food Safety Brief
Produced by the Climate Change Adaptation of the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector Project (CC4FISH) FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) [email protected] http://www.fao.org/americas/caribe/zh/ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Bridgetown, Barbados ro u5 Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Cover Photo Credit: ©FAO/A. Stankus 1 EN /1/0 1 .2
Some rights reserved. This work is available under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence © FAO, 202 C B2435