In my previous entry I explained the benefits of installing your own aquaponic system:
- Food independance
- Eat organic food
- Money savings
- Energy savings
The list is non-exhaustive and other advantages could be added. For these reasons, aquaponics is often considered as part of the agriculture of tomorrow.
Aquaponic cultivation is the ideal method of cultivation in urban and peri-urban areas since it can be practiced on the roofs of buildings, on former wasteland, and especially in areas where access to land is limited and expensive. The high productivity of aquaponics makes it the preferred cultivation method in cities. Furthermore, poximity to the production site also reduces the negative environmental impacts associated with transportation from food production to distribution sites.
In this light we visited last Friday a real case or urban aquaponic system at De Ceuvel in Amsterdam-Noord:
The Ceuvel site was formerly a derelict and polluted shipyard where growing vegetables in soil was thus unsafe for consumption. Hence the idea behind the aquaponics system at De Ceuvel, this cultivation method creates a closed nutrient loop from which edible plants can be harvested for use in their cafe and restaurant.
As you can see in the pictures, their aquaponics system feeds a large vertical planting wall in their greenhouse. It is irrigated from the top, allowing water to flow through each layer of plants. The water used for irrigation is pumped up from a tank which contains catfish. After flowing through each layer of plants, the water is cycled back to the fish tank where nutrients are continuously added by the catfish.
To conclude, this visit at De Ceuvel was inspiring as it showcases how clean technology, food production and nutrient recovery systems can be integrated into urban environments, resulting in more efficient food production and lower food miles.