FarmHub
Biological pest control
The terms ‘biological control’ and its abbreviated synonym ‘biocontrol’ have been used in different fields of biology, most notably entomology and plant pathology. In entomology, it has been used to describe the use of live predatory insects, entomopathogenic nematodes, or microbial pathogens to suppress populations of different insect pests. In plant pathology, the term applies to the use of microbial antagonists to suppress diseases as well as the use of host-specific pathogens to control weed populations.
· Aqu@teachAutomatic feeders
The automation of feeding requires knowledge about the feeding habits of the species in question. We also need to know technical details, such as the number of fish in each tank and their sizes. Manual feeding has advantages, as mentioned above, and is still used to ‘keep in touch’ with the fish. Nonetheless, technological developments can facilitate this labour. Nowadays there are many types of automatic feeders, especially for large-scale projects with a large biomass.
· Aqu@teachAquaponics as an educational tool
Aquaponics promotes scientific literacy and provides a useful tool for teaching the natural sciences at all levels, from primary through to tertiary education. An aquaponics classroom model system provides multiple ways of enriching classes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The day-to-day maintenance of an aquaponics system also enables experiential learning, which is the process of learning through physical experience, and more precisely the ‘meaning- making’ process of an individual’s direct experience.
· Aqu@teachAquaponics and wellbeing
Aquaponics offers an innovative form of therapeutic horticulture, a nature-based approach that can promote wellbeing for people with mental health problems through using a range of green activities such as gardening and contact with animals. Over the past decade, a number of social enterprises have emerged that provide therapeutic horticulture programmes for improving the wellbeing of local communities. The social enterprise approach builds on ‘Social Firms’ by facilitating people with mental health problems to develop new skills and re-engage with the workplace.
· Aqu@teachAquaponics and social enterprise
Social enterprises, as distinct from traditional private or corporate enterprise, aim to deliver products and services that cater to basic human needs. For a social enterprise, the primary motivation is not maximising profit but building social capital; economic growth is therefore only part of a much broader mandate that includes social services such as rehabilitation, education and training, as well as environmental protection. There is growing interest in aquaponics among social enterprises, because it represents an effective tool to help them deliver their mandate.
· Aqu@teachA-frame systems
A-frame systems consist of a stepped arrangement of hydroponic channels (Sánchez-Del-Castillo et al. 2014), or angled panels of geotextile for aeroponic cultivation (Hayden 2006). Fruit bearing crops growing in the lower sections of an A-frame system may experience partial shading, and consequently produce a high number of small and malformed fruit, experience increased fruit rot, and exhibit problems with fruit colouration. This can be avoided by using systems with grow beds that slowly rotate around the A-frame to ensure that the plants obtain uniform sunlight, irrigation and nutrients as they pass through different points in the structure.
· Aqu@teachReese Hundley: A passionate educator at Symbiotic Aquaponic
We recently did an interview with one of the key players at Symbiotic Aquaponic, Reese Hundley. They are experts at system design and share our passion for impacting communities with aquaponics. Reese has a rich story to tell. What would you say is your “Aquaponic Superpower”? Taking raw materials and then turning them into a configuration that I can provide to someone and teach them to help themselves and be a steward of life.
· Jonathan ReyesA Vision of Aquaponics with Brian Filipowich
It is a rare skill to lead an organization like the Aquaponics Association in the midst of a global pandemic and in the face of an emerging market. Brian Filipowich has taken on this challenge as the Chairman of the Aquaponics Association and is also the Director of Anacostia Aquaponics in Washington, DC. He has worked for the U.S. Senate on banking and financial policy until 2015, then did a career one-eighty into aquaponics and sustainable agriculture.
· Jonathan ReyesCase story examples
Salmon smolt production in Chile Growth in the Chilean salmon production during the 90s required an increasing supply of smolts from freshwater to be stocked in cages for grow-out at sea. Smolts were produced in river water or in lakes, where the water was too cold and the environment was suffering. Introducing recirculation helped smolt farmers to produce vast amounts at a significantly lower cost in an environmentally friendly manner. Also, the optimal rearing conditions resulted in faster growth, which made it possible to produce four smolt batches per year instead the previous one batch a year technology.
· Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsDisease
For the innovative entrepreneur there are several opportunities in this kind of recycled aquaculture. The example of combining different farming systems can be developed further into recreational businesses, where sport fishing for carp or put & take fishing for trout can be part of a larger tourist attraction including hotels, fish restaurants and other facilities. There are many examples of recirculation systems operating without any disease problems at all. In fact, it is possible to isolate a recirculation fish farm completely from unwanted fish pathogens.
· Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations