1 / 24

Aquaponics and the University of Arizona

Aquaponics and the University of Arizona. Kevin Fitzsimmons University of Arizona, Professor World Aquaculture Society, Past-President American Tilapia Association, Sec./Tres. Aquaponics Workshop, Tucson, 12 April, 2012. Trends in food markets. Demand for more locally grown, organic foods

virginiarmiller
Download Presentation

Aquaponics and the University of Arizona

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Aquaponics and theUniversity of Arizona Kevin FitzsimmonsUniversity of Arizona, Professor World Aquaculture Society, Past-President American Tilapia Association, Sec./Tres. Aquaponics Workshop, Tucson, 12 April, 2012

  2. Trends in food markets • Demand for more locally grown, organic foods • Increasing demand for vegetables and fish for health reasons • Need to increase economic and environmental efficiency (energy, water, land area, recycling of nutrients)

  3. Need new model for food production • Green Revolution – huge increase in food production, but heavy reliance on irrigation, fuel and fertilizer • Blue Revolution – more than 50% of all seafood is now farm raised, but many environmental impacts (effluents causing eutrophication, algae blooms, cage and raft conflicts with other users in oceans, bays and lakes)

  4. Aquaponics Projects • The Land Pavilion – Disney World, Florida • Biosphere 2 – Tucson, Arizona • High school education • Mexico systems • Jeddah, Saudi Arabia system • Commercialization

  5. Disney World – EPCOT – The Land • University of Arizona provided technical design, layout, training of staff, and 10 years of updates. • Selected hydroponics and aquaculture as two critical food production systems for the future.

  6. Disney World – EPCOT – The Land • 30,000 guests a day learn about hydroponics, aquaculture, tilapia, and advanced farming techniques • Products are served in the Good Turn Restaurant

  7. Development trials for Biosphere 2 • Biosphere 2 – A one hectare greenhouse. Completely sealed, with eight people living inside for two years.

  8. Early trials for Biosphere 2 • University of Arizona provided overall technical support and designed the food system. • Intensive food production • Healthy foods with minimal need for external inputs • Replicated trials with tilapia and lettuce

  9. Various growing techniques • Growing in gravel/biofilter • Growing in floating boards

  10. Density and micronutrient trials • Low density of fish • High density of fish

  11. Nutrient film technique • Growing in troughs/gutters with flowing water

  12. Nutrient film technique • Flood and drain version in troughs/gutters

  13. Fish and grain crops Tilapia and barley Nutrient dynamics in recirc Low density mid density high density • Determined that integrated fish and irrigated crops were most efficient food production system for Biosphere 2

  14. Educational systems in high schools Fish instead of traditional farm animals Hydroponic vegetables and ornamental flowers

  15. Tilapia and lettuce Arizona

  16. Tilapia & lettuces & freshwater shrimp Effluent from fish and shrimp fertilizes plants, plants absorb nutrients, bacteria provide additional water treatment Commercial sponsors, three Tucson high schools with similar systems, several back yard producers testing systems.

  17. Data collection and analysis Light measurements (PAR) Computer monitoring

  18. Data and video live on Internet

  19. Aquaponics in Mexico Building fish tanks Building aquaponic beds

  20. Aquaponics in Mexico Planting peppers Stocking fish

  21. Aquaponics in Mexico Harvesting peppers Harvesting fish

  22. Saudi Arabia • King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) • Aquaponics for:EducationDemonstrationFresh Produce for Campus food outlets

  23. What’s needed next? • Determine water and nutrient parameters • Determine temperature regimes • Settle on aquaculture hardware • Train production staff and semi-skilledfarming staff

More Related