aquaponics: a fish & plant love story terrence xiao
… and food fish are friends…
epic backstory *dramatic theme music*
fish are friends… what is aquaponics anyways?
“a process which combines the biochemical cycles of hydroponics and aquaculture to create a symbiotic system in which the two not only coexist, but supplement each other” definitio n
fish waste harvested plants & fish denitrifying bacteria food decomposing organic matter nitrogen-fixing bacteria
… so what?
… and food why should you (and everyone else) care about aquaponics?
this is important because food is important
2050: 9 billion people food production must increase by ~50%
one in seven people today are malnourished
modern agriculture =
industrial agriculture a system of production built on unsustainable practices
intensive use of resources (such as land and water)
agricultural practices contribute to 10% – 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions
transportation energy costs food processing
50%
modern agriculture = !!!
lots of big issues: > parts of the world today already face shortages > growing population = more food > our agriculture industry is reaching its limit
aquaponics = !!!
natural systems a system which seeks to replicate a natural ecosystem
fertilizers irrigation
concentrated production environmental sustainability resource efficiency scalability and integration
If aquaponics is so great…
aquaponics = potential
aquaponics & you (yes, you.) this project and what it means this school and you
“as a community, Andover embraces environmental sustainability as a natural extension of the non sibi ideal” - Phillips Academy Andover Website
personal interest in fish ↓ academic interest in ecology and environmental science project ↓
construction and study of integrated aquaponics system
senior fall (two terms ago): researc h.
senior winter (one term ago): construction.
senior spring (this term): community.
om/ olios/22/Logistics
personal interest in _____ ↓ academic interest in _____ project ! ↓
questions? comments? compliments?
thanks!