Aquaponics and the Desert Agriculture Research Initiative Kevin Fitzsimmons University of Arizona, Professor World Aquaculture Society, Past-President American Tilapia Association, Sec./Tres. Jeddah, Saudia Arabia, 25 October, 2011

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)

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)

Aquaponics Projects The Land Pavilion – Disney World, Florida Biosphere 2 – Tucson, Arizona High school education Mexico systems Jeddah salt water system Commercialization

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.

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

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

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

Various growing techniques Growing in floating boards Growing in gravel/biofilter

Density and micronutrient trials Low density of fish High density of fish

Nutrient film technique Growing in troughs/gutters with flowing water

Nutrient film technique Flood and drain version in troughs/gutters

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

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

Aquaponics in Mexico Building fish tanks Building aquaponic beds

Aquaponics in Mexico Planting peppers Stocking fish

Aquaponics in Mexico Harvesting peppers Harvesting fish

Jeddah Fish Farming Center Fish, Shrimp and Seaweeds Gracilaria and Ulva

Tilapia and lettuce Arizona

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.

Data collection and analysis Light measurements (PAR) Computer monitoring

Data and video live on Internet

What’s needed next? Determine water and nutrient parameters Determine temperature regimes Settle on aquaculture hardware Train production staff and semi-skilled farming staff