As the world’s population continues to grow, and as climate change becomes an ever-increasing threat to global food security, one question must be answered: how can we grow more food with fewer natural resources?
Â
Well, it turns out we can learn a great deal from an ancient farming technique that was first adopted by the Aztecs over a millennium ago. This powerful farming technique is called Aquaponics. Aquaponics involves the simultaneous farming of fish and plants in a self-sustaining system that utilises remarkably few natural resources.
Â
In an aquaponics system, fish and plants work together in a way that really encapsulates the saying “one man’s waste is another man’s treasure”. For anyone who has ever kept a goldfish, one of the most annoying things is the frequent water changes. The water in the fish tank has to be constantly changed because the fish poop increases the level of ammonia in the water, which damages the water quality. However, in an aquaponics system, the fish poop acts as a vital fertiliser for the plants. The plants take up this fertiliser, which is significantly beneficial for their growth, and in turn, they clean the water. This clean water is reused to farm fish and creates a self-sustaining cycle!
Â
Research shows that aquaponics systems use significantly less water than traditional agriculture -Â up to 90% less! Additionally, crops grown in aquaponics systems grow at a faster rate than those grown in soil.
Â
As the global climate crisis continues to threaten food security, innovative farming techniques like aquaponics become increasingly important tools for sustainable food production.
