Page 16 - Vol.39-No.6

FISHERIES

FOCUS ON INNOVATIVE

SOLUTIONS FOR AQUACULTURE

"Inhouse Farming - Feed & Food
Show" - New DLG platform for agri-
cultural and food systems of the future Aquaponics systems are inhouse farms
- From 12 to 18 November 2023 in that are closed recirculating aquaculture
Hanover at Agritechnica systems (RAS) based on a symbiosis of fish,
plants and microorganisms. The process
water of the fish is also used for the nu-
trient supply of plants, i.e. it is used twice.
Aquaponics combines the rearing of fish in
an aquaculture unit (fish farming and water
treatment) with the soilless cultivation of
Dr. Birgit Schmidt Puckhaber crops in a joint production system. This is
how food can be produced in a re-source-
In closed RAS systems, mainly fresh- saving yet efficient way.
water fish are reared, such as catfish, pike
perch, tilapia, eels and sturgeon. But salt- In aquaponics systems, priority is given to
water recirculating systems for shrimp, sea robust, vigorous and tolerant fish species,
bass, bream and king fish are also becoming such as tilapia, catfish, sturgeon and carp-
popular on the market. In many Norwegian like fish, which tolerate the nutrient, water
The "Inhouse Farming - Feed & Food salmon farms, the young fish (smolts) are quality and tem-perature fluctuations that
Show" will take a look at monitored already housed under controlled conditions occur. The choice of "plant partners" de-
closed systems for food and feed pro- in recirculating systems. pends on the nutrient re-quirements and
duction. 13 November is "Aq-uaculture the marketing concept of the system. The
Theme Day" and fish, algae and shrimp This form of aquaculture is resource-ef- basic prerequisite is the ability to grow
are in the spotlight - growth in wa-ter. ficient, independent of location, environ- without soil in nutrient solutions. High-
Organised by the DLG (German Ag- mentally friendly and almost completely yield, fruit-bearing plants such as toma-
ricultural Society), the B2B meeting controllable. A high degree of mechani- toes, cu-cumbers and pumpkins need more
place, which takes place at the same sation and a great need for investment in nutrients than fast-growing and low-yield
time as Agritechnica in Hanover, fo- these systems are reason enough to show herbs, lettuce or ornamental plants.
cuses on innovative indoor aquaculture and get to know the most innovative new What appears to be new territory to us is
and sustainable fish farming charac- aquatic systems with sustainable energy based on time-honoured experience from
terised by closed water circu-lation and oxygen concepts. the Asian region, where combinations of
systems, the use of renewable energies To understand a new sector, it is best to animal and plant production represent a
and the digitalisation of all processes. talk to the people who are already work- piece of cultural herit-age. (e.g. rice-fish
The question that will be discussed in ing success-fully with recirculating aqua- culture).
Hanover is how aquaculture - already one culture system technology. A number of On the in-house farming platform, visi-
of the world's fastest growing sectors of practitioners, fish farm-ers and experts tors will be introduced to innovative aqua-
agriculture - will develop further and which are invited to answer questions at the ponics farms and gain insight into how,
of its promising potentials will be applied in "Inhouse Farming - Feed & Food Show". for example, perch and basil benefit from
a few years' time. With a total volume of What requirements do I have to fulfil, which each other.
more than 80 million tonnes, over half of markets need to be developed and how
the fish and seafood consumed worldwide can the efficient operation of recirculating Many of the existing aquaponics systems
now comes from commercial aquaculture. systems be designed? are located directly in urban areas (urban
By 2030, the Food and Agriculture Organ- Visitors can look forward to a glimpse farming) and they combine food production
isation (FAO) estimates that 60 per-cent into Europe's largest pike-perch facility with a shopping experience.
of fish and seafood consumed will come and they can exchange ideas with shrimp Agriculture in water
from supervised aquaculture. experts who grow fresh shrimp in saltwater For Dr Birgit Schmidt-Puckhaber, Aq-
Innovative solutions for recirculating systems - from the Kiel Fjord uaculture Project Manager at the DLG
to Bavaria.
aquaculture Competence Center Agriculture, "growth

Inhouse farming of aquatic organisms is Aquaponics - when plants in water" is a great challenge, not only to
produce food and feed on the area, but also
becoming increasingly important and al- and animals do things to use water effectively for this purpose.
ready repre-sents a technology sector in its together " It's fascinating when nutrients from fish
own right. The so-called recirculating aqua- Aquaponics is a combination of aquacul- farming are used to cultivate vegetables,
culture systems (RAS) allow the production ture and hydroponics, i.e. plant cultivation herbs and flowers, and the CO2 excreted
of fish and seafood independently of open without soil substrate. As a classic form by the fish provides photosynthesis – a
waters, as the process water is treated, of production in greenhouses and halls, true circular economy!"
cleaned and returned to the production it definitely belongs at the new "Inhouse
basins after use - an almost closed cycle!
Farming - Feed & Food Show". Circle 16 on enquiry card
14 Vol. 39 No. 6