Commercial Aquaponics

Aquaponics is the combination of recirculation aquaculture and hydroponics. Please review the Aquaponics Overview and the Aquaponics FAQ for more information on how aquaponics works.

Commercial Aquaponics is a young sector of agriculture but one with great potential. There are commercial aquaponic farms in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and a few other countries but, as of now, the total number of commercial enterprises is quite small. This is due to the fact that combining aquaculture and hydroponics is fairly new technology.

Yes, aquaponics is quite new but it is not unproven. Research scientists at the University of the Virgin Islands have been developing commercially-viable aquaponic systems for nearly 25 years and commercial growers and many other Universities have contributed to the research and development of aquaponics technology.

Aquaponics can fill a niche market for premium quality crops or it can provide staples for a village in a developing country. (See Village Aquaponics article) Most commercial growers use a greenhouse to protect the plants and fish from harsh environmental conditions and pest insects. In a greenhouse, floor space must be maximized to reduce costs and increase production.

The production can be very high in a commercial aquaponic system when plant spacing is maximized and the fish are fed a proper and balanced diet. The daily work involved in a commercial aquaponic venture includes feeding the fish and cleaning the filters, seeding, transplanting and harvesting the plants and packaging the produce for sale. The fish are harvested periodically, with the frequency dependant on the size of the system, the number of fish tanks and the market demand.

There is a growing need for aquaponics and controlled environment agriculture. The past several years of the fresh food industry have been marred by continued incidence of food contamination and consumer illness. Causes range from impure water to unsanitary conditions in fields and packing facilities, to imports that are not inspected. Nearly 99 % of the fresh food imported into the US is not inspected. Much of this food, including what is labeled as organic, is coming from countries without strict safety, nutritional or environmental regulations. Food grown in the US that is processed in massive processing and packaging facilities has proven to be susceptible to contamination as well.

In a controlled environment greenhouse, a grower has the ability to enforce a bio-security program that will keep the food free of contamination. In addition, the ability to be close to the marketplace eliminates the long-distance travel (on average over 2000 miles) that most fresh food travels in the US.

An aquaponic farm can be a rewarding and profitable business for a family or individual. It can also tap into the "agri-tourism" craze and earn extra income from it. For more information on how you can get started in commercial aquaponics, visit our consulting page, take a look at our systems for sale or contact us at 608-297-8708 or via e-mail.