Aquaponics

The lessons we have learned from both water and land, come together beautifully in aquaponics which is a shining example of how the future of farming needs to embrace complementary products to maximise efficiencies and minimise waste.

Representing a closed loop ecosystem, a successful aquaponics system needs to have considered all aspects of the creatures and organisms within that system. Oxidative and reductive reactions are essential to achieve homeostasis and it is in this discipline that organic food production sustainability can offer great benefits to the communities in which they operate.

Supplementing both hydrogen and oxygen to the aquaponics system at a neutral pH can dramatically assist all of the organisms living in that system enabling faster growth rates and bigger yields. Both fish and plant will benefit from the life giving properties associated with creating an environment biased towards aerobic life in general. In these systems it is the beneficial bacteria’s that are providing the plants with the molecular hydrogen from which it can harvest the electrons it needs to produce biomass. Providing the ingredients the system needs to maintain balance is a critical aspect to ensure that these microbes can stay healthy and do their jobs.

Molecular hydrogen can significantly increase lateral and total root growth which offers far greater access to nutrient availability in the waters below and increasing the biomass above. This also allows for greater cleaning capacity of these waters which in turn benefits the fish and the entire cycle of aerobic activity and life forms.

Integrated closed loop farming systems should be a high priority for all governments around the world where land and water availability is becoming a rare commodity and waste is becoming problematic. These solutions make absolute sense on so many levels it will inevitably become a mainstream necessity before too long. It is after all, the circle of life.

Nature has already shown us how it all works. Let’s embrace it, not try to change it. All of it, not just some of it. The circle of life is exactly that, a circle. It has no beginning and no end, it’s all part of it, it all matters.

From simple concepts, entire industries grow. Using all available resources and maximising profit potential is not only financially sensible, but environmentally sensible too.

Making the most of the space available. It should not limit what can be achieved when all the right ingredients of life are put into the mix in the right amounts. A fish farm and vegetable garden in a carpark? Why not?

Carefully planned integrated systems will not only be highly profitable businesses but be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

New methods and new thinking are needed if we are to keep up with the challenges of food security and environmental sustainability as the planet around us changes. New technologies ensure new opportunities.

The activities and waste from one species are often the very thing that supports the life of another. Compounding benefit evidence is all around us and with just a little more thought, the collective upside could be enormous.