Let's make Halloween more sustainable!
How is Halloween bad for the environment, and what could be done to celebrate it more sustainably?
Guides & E-books
In the midst of climate change, many of us are preoccupied with how rising global temperatures may impact farmers on land – but what about aquaponics and how global warming will affect our fish supply?
Aquaponics is the practice of using fish waste to enhance the growth of plants, which ultimately helps to create a more conducive environment for fish and other produce to grow and later be harvested.
In this article, we’ll explain what aquaponics is, why aquaponics is important, the pros and cons of aquaponics, and what the future holds for aquaponics.
Aquaponics works to ensure that the waste created on behalf of fish is then used to help supplement other plants or living organisms in the water, which provides a sustainable means to produce food.
Ultimately, the main goal of aquaponics is to ensure that aquatic animal waste is reused and can prove helpful in the effort to grow aquatic plants while helping to increase food supply.
💡 If we break down the word, “aquaponics” – “aqua” means water and “ponics” refers to growing or working to create something. Therefore, when put together – aquaponics depicts the effort of growing plants in water to benefit fish as well.
Think of it this way – fish food and fish waste accumulate in a body of water overtime, and if it isn’t cleaned regularly, it could compromise the livelihood of the fish themselves. That’s why when you have pet fish at home in a fish tank, many people choose to install an automatic cleaner – but the ocean or a lake doesn’t have this. As a result, these bodies of water must rely on the living organisms and plants in the water to clean the water for the fish.
There are three main methods used to filter the water for aquaponics:
Regardless of which method of aquaponics is used, all of these methods ultimately work by enhancing the already existing nitrogen cycle – which starts when ammonia (toxic to the fish) accumulates in the tank, which then turns into nitrite, and where nitrobacter can transform the nitrite into nitrate, which can be used as nutrients for aquatic plants.
👉 These aquaponic systems can be made in various sizes in order to accommodate various bodies of water – including freshwater or oceanic-like conditions with high content saltwater.
Aquaponics is important because it helps to address the issues associated with climate change and aquatic life, including soil degradation, water scarcity, and how shifting weather patterns may impact our traditional methods of harvesting fish and other produce.
Aquaponics helps to create a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants, which ultimately – can help to support one another as climate change threatens their current vitality.
Here are a few more reasons why aquaponics is important:
👉 Ultimately, aquaponics allows three main components, including fish, nitrifying bacteria, and plants – to thrive off of one another and work together to boost their chances of survival in the midst of climate change.
The main difference between hydroponics and aquaponics is that hydroponics works to grow plants without viable soil through the use of nutrient solution, whereas aquaponics focuses on growing plants in conjunction with current fish populations.
Despite their differences, it is important to remember that both hydroponics and aquaponics can help to support bodies of water in the midst of climate change.
Here are some of the additional differences between hydroponics and aquaponics:
👉 Both aquaponics and hydroponics are both soilless methods to grow plants, can be set up indoors, and can both yield better results than traditional methods used to grow plants.
There are several pros and cons to aquaponics, including helping to boost energy efficiency, global food supply, and preserve the aquatic ecosystems – but aquaponics can also face challenges such as the initial start-up costs can be expensive and the lack of crop variety.
Although aquaponics offers several benefits, it is important for individuals to consider the potential constraints when setting up an aquaponic system prior to making the investment decision and proceeding with implementation.
Here are some of the pros of aquaponics:
Here are some of the cons of aquaponics:
👉 While it’s true that aquaponics presents several challenges, these can often be avoided with consistent monitoring and management.
The future for aquaponics looks bright as scientists and researchers gain new knowledge on aquatic trends and new technologies continue to be developed.
As both research and technology make advances, aquaponics will be able to grow as more companies will find it feasible to implement aquaponics into their agricultural practices.
Here are some reasons why the future looks bright for aquaponics:
💡 In fact, there have already been two successful aquaponic programs – such as the Oasis Farm & Fishery and Emerge Aquaponics.
Located in Pittsburg, Philadelphia – Oasis Farm & Fishery makes use of both aquaponic and hydroponic systems to grow local and abundant produce.
Oasis Farms even offers classes for nearby residents to learn more about their aquaponic system and how it aids in food production!
Based in the Colorado Springs area, Emerge Aquaponics makes use of aquaponic systems to produce fresh lettuce for the state. They offer their produce to wholesale sellers in addition to local customers.
Has aquaponics started to pique your interest?
Here’s what your company will need if your looking to get started in aquaponics:
Overall, aquaponics can help us to support fish life, reduce water usage, promote energy efficiency, and ultimately – demonstrate to the world that it's possible to curate sustainable food production with the help of tactics such as aquaponics.
If reading this article about aquaponics has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance with boosting supplier engagement, personalised assistance, and new ways to involve your employees.
Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.