Climate proofing food production through aquaponics

Combining aquaculture and hydroponic systems for circular food production solutions

Project Partners: Sao Paulo State University, Aquaculture Center and the University of Greenwich

Aquaponics is a remarkable food production system combining the farming of fish and other aquatic animals, with plants, mainly vegetables and herbs, using fish waste to feed the plants. The benefits of aquaponics are well known, as combining aquaculture and hydroponic systems, less water and no chemicals are used and multiple products can be produced for the same energy inputs.

In the global North, aquaponic system design is based on larger scale commercial production and on high-tech solutions, minimal labour, sophisticated management systems and manufactured and imported feeds using largely unsustainable marine based fishmeal. In the global South, aquaponics has more relevance at a smaller scale.

This project is aimed at the small farmer, subsistence farmers and community growers, and at families and extended families directly affected by climate change, particularly due to drought. These farmers are greatly affected if their harvests are diminished or lost.

Developing potential collaborations for small farmers

With regard to the developed world, aquaponic production can be streamlined, located in large buildings and greenhouses using state of the art technology. Should these businesses fail, and many have, it is regrettable and consequential but not disastrous. When a small farmer and subsistence farmer’s crops are lost, this can be devastating, leading to real hardship.

This project is for the UK and Brazilian partners to initially travel to Ghana to meet prospective academic/research and aquaculture business collaborators and to scope out the next stage which would be a submission for an Innovation Award for Climate Smart Agriculture Partnerships: UK-Brazil-Africa or another Call. Aquaponics is undoubtedly based on the circular economy, and it is ‘climate smart’ in both the north and south but its relevance in the developing world needs innovation. Innovation is inherent in the proposal and this is what they will be discussing amongst the potential collaborators.

For more information

For more information on this project, contact us, or view all projects funded under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership programme.

Innovate UK Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership: UK-Brazil-Africa brings together innovative people and organisations to promote climate-smart agriculture in Africa.