Aquaponics It is a technique that offers a sustainable system that can combine the characteristics of traditional aquaculture together with those of modern hydroponic culture. These two are fundamental elements that serve to be able to raise aquatic animals while growing plants.
In the process Fish farming waste is generated from production and can accumulate in the water and be used in closed systems such as those used in traditional aquaculture systems.
In this way, Aquaponics has been gaining ground in the sustainable agriculture sectors in the world, so much so that it has begun to be implemented industrially for the production and export of plants such as lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
According to Mario Colorado, from the Sena Biotechnology Center, this technique has already been standardized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as a way to improve the world’s food security.
Since, according to the expert, the technique is inexpensive and can be performed in small spaces such as homes or orchards that facilitate food production.
Another benefit of this process is that it allows the reuse of water not suitable for human consumption, such as rainwater or stagnant water on roofs, said Colorado.
In the same way, aquaponics allows to reduce the water footprint of production processes since with traditional irrigation systems the plants take advantage of only 20% of the water supplied while with the implementation of this technique the plants take advantage of almost 100% of the liquids , thus allowing a recirculation and total reuse of the water resource used in the different areas of the process.
Finally, aquaponics allows for benefits such as the reduction of pollution generated by production and a higher yield than purely hydroponic crops, due to the constant fertilization driven by the action of fish.
Along the same lines, the technique allows a total reduction in the use of chemical agents since all the vitamin elements are produced in the same ecosystem and a healthier breeding for the fish.
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