Researcher: Aadi Manghnani School: Jumeirah English Speaking School Presentation Title: Aquaponics of the future Research Focus: Analyzing the fundamental techniques that are used in sustainable aquafarming and the effect they have on food production yield. Also, creating a futuristic model of an aquaponics farm. Presentation Type: Paper Researcher Mentor: Sharad Bachani Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to illustrate the benefits of aquaponic farming as a newly found farming technique. Aquaponics as a whole uses many sustainable procedures that not only allow businesses, that are within the agriculture market, to maximize their yield of produce, but also allow many firms to do so in a sustainable manner which, as a result, increases environmental awareness. Aquaponics is a revolutionary self-sustainable form of farming which is yet to be recognized, in a high regard, by the rest of the world. This report will illustrate the key components of aquaponics: biological and chemical composition of produce, water management techniques as well as the aquaponic enterprise that exists in today’s modern society. T he report will also display a newfound location for farming which could potentially revolutionize the industry due to its low cost and high yield advantage. Introduction: Aquaponics refers to any system that combines conventional aquaculture, which is essentially raising aquatic animals, with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment. Aquaponics is actually a very old form of farming and can be dated back to 1000 AD where the Aztec Indians raised plants on the surface of a lake. However, as a modern agriculture technological advancement, it is still in its early stages of growth and have only gained a relative amount of momentum in the last half century. Due to it being a relatively new form of farming suggests that there are potentially many ways this farming technique can be improved whether its advancements in location of the systematic techniques used in modern day aquaponic farming. Aquaponics serves as a model for sustainable food production by following certain principles The waste product of the aquatic animal used in aquaculture is used as nutrients in another biological system. (Fish faeces must be used as nutrients for plants) The integration of fish and plants results in polyculture that would inevitably increase diversity and yields of multiple organic produce that the farm is able to make. Water must be re-used biological filtration and re-circulation. The basic understanding that local food production should provide access to healthy foods and enhances the local economy. In aquaponics, the nutrient rich faeces at the bottom of the fish tanks left by the aquaculture present at the farm is used to supply the necessary minerals needed to fertilize the hydroponic production areas. This is an extremely important process as plant roots and rhizobacteria are generally known for removing nutrients from the water. If the fecal matter was left alone it would build up to toxic levels which could negatively effect the fish within the tank, however, because it is used as liquid fertilizer for growth it acts as a beneficiary for the plants. The hydroponic beds previously used function as a biofilter – taking out ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and phosphorus – so the freshly cleansed water which can then be re-used in the fish tanks. However, the technology used in aquaponics is rather complex, this is due to the fact that it requires the ability to work with two different agriculture products in a simultaneous manner. Fish Species used: Several warm and cold-water fish species are uniquely suited to recirculating aquaculture procedures. The most common type of fish is Tilapia; however, individuals can also use trout, perch, Arctic char, and bass. Due to Tilapia being the most common type of fish the report will base all aquaculture values on the Tilapia fish. Tilapia is the most common type of fish due to it being a warm water species that grows well in recirculating tank culture. Furthermore, tilapia is tolerant of fluctuating water conditions such as PH, oxygen concentration, temperature of the water – even though Tilapia strive in warm water they are able to survive and function in their process in different temperatures -, and the dissolved solids in the water. Most of the worlds research comes from The University of the Virgin Islands and many modern day aquaponic farms base all their formulas and quantitative values to match the report given by the Virgin Islands. The report my UVI created a commercial aquaponics farm which could sustainably run for 5 years. Baseline components for a commercial aquaponics farm: Four fish rearing tanks at 7800 liters each. The image to the left illustrates a hydroponic farm. This is a primary image of a farming and renewable research facility in Sharjah, UAE. This facility employs hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics, thus, making it an extremely valid source to complete experiments and find quantitative values to compare to each other. This is clearly a hydroponics farm as the plants are being grown on ‘beds’ over water. We know aquaponics isn’t used here as there is no aquaculture. Clarifiers, filter and degassing tanks, air diffusor, and sump (Basic components). Six 400 square foot hydroponic troughs (2400 square feet in total). The PH is monitored daily and maintained at 7.0 to 7.5. o This is done so through the alternating mixtures of calcium hydroxide – increases PH – and potassium hydroxide – generally a stabilizer. Tilapia are cultured for 24 weeks. o Nile Tilapia are stocked at a rate of 77 fish per cubic meter. o Red Tilapia are stocked at a rate of 154 fish per cubic meter. Harvesting occurs every six weeks, after which the fish tank gets restocked. Fish must be fed three times a day with a floating fish pellet at 32% protein. Annual fish production if normally distributed has an average yield of 4.16 tons for Nile Tilapia and 4.78 tons for Red Tilapia. Testing at UVI: Researchers compared the yields of a leafy herb – basil - and a vegetable – okra – grown in aquaponics and compared it to field production systems. They were previously grown in raft hydroponics. The results concluded that yields of aquaponic basil were 3x greater than the field grown basil. On the other hand, the yield of aquaponic okra were 18x greater than the field grown. Furthermore, based on the market price in the United States Virgin Islands: $22 per kg of relatively fresh basil – which include stems – the gross income potential can be calculate: $515 per cubic meter per year. $110,210 per system per year This compares to field produced basil at $172 per cubic meter per year $36,808 per year for the same production area. If fish sales are included, the aquaponic system can potentially yield $134,245 Evaluating Aquaponic Enterprise: Building and creating a commercial sized aquaponics farm can cost anywhere between $10,000 to $30,000, the difference is dependent on the size of the project and the components used. Due to the complex nature of setting up the project individuals are told to carefully go through systematic methods to find market potential and production methods which are necessary for making a self-sustaining farm.