ADVANTAGES OF AQUAPONICS

In Future Farming, we can set the conditions for the fish and plants to the minutest detail. From water and air temperature to very precise pH or the level of oxygen dissolved in water. This enables us to farm almost any freshwater fish and animals and combine it appropriately with the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. We can also grow very exotic vegetables, which otherwise have to be imported from the other side of the world.

Light supplies plants with energy. Our farms use sunlight, which is of course the best for plants. However, in our latitudes, we must also use artificial lighting, especially in winter. Thanks to advances in LED lighting technology and the latest research on photosynthesis and chlorophyll, we are now able to design lighting systems according to the needs of every plant. In this way, electricity consumption can be optimised and the plants get exactly what they need. Many years of research and testing stand behind these advances.

Recent studies by Dutch cultivation light manufacturers demonstrated that even under artificial lighting, a plant of the same quality can be grown as in sunlight. In this area we therefore rely on the latest technology.

Bacteria play a key role in the nutrient cycle. Just like a person has up to 10 kg of bacteria in their intestines to be able to effectively take nutrients from food, the aquaponic system needs bacteria to convert the waste products of the fish into nutrients for the plants. The first colony of bacteria lives in the intestines of the fish, where they process food. The second colony lives in the biological filters of the system. Both colonies are monitored and replenished if necessary. The key to making the process work effectively is to use special feed to which the bacteria are accustomed. If bacterial colonies are disrupted, for example by the use of chemicals or antibiotics, a fermentation or putrefaction process will start to prevail, thereby causing the entire aquaponic system to stop working. The use of such substances in aquaponics is therefore unacceptable. Colonies create a group of dozens of bacterial species that together do exactly what is needed. In this area, we have invested enormous resources into research on suitable bacterial species, which forms the core of our know-how. The inappropriate handling of feed and bacteria are the most common reasons why aquaponic systems do not work or collapse.

Each application has its advantages and disadvantages. In an enclosed space, higher yields and year-round operation can be achieved. The downside is higher energy consumption.
For outdoor applications, energy consumption is minimal, but operation seasonal. Other differences lie in the demands placed on environmental hygiene and compliance with quality standards. Outdoor applications can never meet the quality standards set by AQP Food for foods of the highest quality.