Increasing Demand for Food Worldwide Is Expected To Propel Growth of Aquaponics Market

 

Aquaponics refers to an agricultural system, which pairs hydroponics with aquaculture (farming raising aquatic animals like fish, crustaceans, snails or red shrimp in tanks) through an aquaculture system. This setup combines the best aspects of both aquaculture and hydroponics. In hydroponics, plants are grown in nutrient-rich media and hydroponics equipment is used to provide the nutrients needed by the plants. The two systems complement each other and work hand in hand to ensure an efficient and effective food production. Thus, increasing demand for food is expected to propel growth of the aquaponics market.

Aquaponics is not a new idea; however, with the widespread popularity of aquaculture worldwide, it has gained ground and become more popular as of late, thereby aiding in growth of the aquaponics market. Aquaponics is basically a two-stage system. One being a growing medium (gravel, peat, etc.) that is planted within a permeable tube, containing fish or aquatic plants. The other is a pump that brings the biofilter system and pumps water through the system, containing a bed of rocks or other biofilter media.

Aquaponics works best with plants that grow horizontally and whose roots grow outwards in a downward direction towards the entrance of the pump room. One benefit of aquaponics is that the plants are placed right next to the pumps, which allows for the efficient transfer of waste material from the fish tank to the beds of biofilters. Also, this arrangement facilitates for the efficient filtration and circulation of oxygenated water, and carbon dioxide from the aquaculture plants. This process also draws in other microorganisms such as nitrates from the fish waste, providing additional food source for the plants. These benefits are expected to aid in growth of the aquaponics market.

Some of the advantages of aquaponics over conventional farming are the reduction of weeds and extra space for storing fish or livestock. However, hydroponic systems also have their limitations; especially when it comes to large scale production. For instance, in large-scale hydroponic production facilities like a duck farm, many thousands of ducks are kept in confined spaces in order to control the population of larger numbers of wild waterfowl.

In aquaponic gardening, you will need to make sure that you provide your fish with ample supplies of food and water. Aquaponics is not just a hobby but a method of agriculture that are highly productive. With an aquaponic garden you can reap a significant return on your initial investment within a short period of time. You'll be able to harvest a significant amount of vegetables and fruits that are fresh and free of contaminated by environmental pollution from other sources. And most important, with vertical farming, you are taking full advantage of natural biological processes without the use of pesticides or herbicides.