Aquaponics is a sustainable agricultural practice that integrates aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). This symbiotic system allows for the efficient production of both fish and plants, where the fish waste provides essential nutrients for plant growth, and the plants, in turn, help purify the water for the fish.
The Practice Abstract titled “Aquaponics with fish sludge anaerobic digestion” was prepared by authors Ze Zhu, Osnat Gillor, and Amit Gross from our partner BGU under the FrontAg Nexus project, supported by the European Union’s PRIMA programme. The document addresses the integration of anaerobic digestion into aquaponic systems to manage and repurpose fish sludge, a byproduct of aquaculture. This innovative approach uses an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor to convert fish sludge into biogas and nutrient-rich supernatant. The supernatant is then recirculated back into the aquaponics system, enhancing plant growth and reducing the need for external fertilizers. This solution simultaneously addresses waste management, energy production, and resource efficiency, presenting a sustainable method to improve water use and nutrient cycling in aquaponic agriculture in arid Mediterranean regions.
