To develop sustainable City/Region Food Systems (CRFS), a shift toward more ecofriendly and efficient production systems is needed. On its side, aquaponics systems rely on the equilibrium and interaction between fish, plants, and bacteria and are part of the so-called integrated production systems. Compared to other production techniques, it offers several advantages thanks to its management and operating costs feasibility. Recirculating Aquaponics Systems (RAS) provides the opportunity to finely close the nutrients loop inside an ecosystem and catch the best it can offer. Here we aim to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of RAS systems. In addition, we present as a case study the RAS prototype at the Department of Agricultural Sciences of University of Naples Federico II started in November 2020 to grow leafy vegetables and tilapia fish. Results provide helpful scientific and practical information for small and/or large-scale commercial growers as well as amateurs. Furthermore, our results highlight the suitability of these systems to be embedded in urban areas from rooftop and vertical farms to other controlled environment agricultural (CEA) systems and the opportunity they can offer for abandoned urban spaces.

Recirculating aquaponics systems: the new era of food production / Modarelli, G. C.; Cirillo, C.; Vanacore, L.; Langellotti, A. L.; Masi, P.; De Pascale, S.; Rouphael, Y.. - In: ACTA HORTICULTURAE. - ISSN 0567-7572. - 1345:1345(2022), pp. 215-220. [10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1345.29]

Recirculating aquaponics systems: the new era of food production

Modarelli G. C.
;
Cirillo C.;Vanacore L.;Langellotti A. L.;Masi P.;De Pascale S.;Rouphael Y.
2022

Abstract

To develop sustainable City/Region Food Systems (CRFS), a shift toward more ecofriendly and efficient production systems is needed. On its side, aquaponics systems rely on the equilibrium and interaction between fish, plants, and bacteria and are part of the so-called integrated production systems. Compared to other production techniques, it offers several advantages thanks to its management and operating costs feasibility. Recirculating Aquaponics Systems (RAS) provides the opportunity to finely close the nutrients loop inside an ecosystem and catch the best it can offer. Here we aim to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of RAS systems. In addition, we present as a case study the RAS prototype at the Department of Agricultural Sciences of University of Naples Federico II started in November 2020 to grow leafy vegetables and tilapia fish. Results provide helpful scientific and practical information for small and/or large-scale commercial growers as well as amateurs. Furthermore, our results highlight the suitability of these systems to be embedded in urban areas from rooftop and vertical farms to other controlled environment agricultural (CEA) systems and the opportunity they can offer for abandoned urban spaces.
2022
Recirculating aquaponics systems: the new era of food production / Modarelli, G. C.; Cirillo, C.; Vanacore, L.; Langellotti, A. L.; Masi, P.; De Pascale, S.; Rouphael, Y.. - In: ACTA HORTICULTURAE. - ISSN 0567-7572. - 1345:1345(2022), pp. 215-220. [10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1345.29]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/901942
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