Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Anyone heard of this research project?
http://idw-online.de/de/news572736
http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/111413_en.html

INAPRO - "EU funded project aiming at demonstrating the viability of an innovative aquaponics system which allows a nearly emission-free sustainable food production"

The four year project costs over €9 million and will eventually have four demo sites of approx. 500m² in Spain, Belgium, Germany and China. It will build on the earlier German ASTAF-PRO ("Tomatenfisch") project (see http://www.igb-berlin.de/astafpro-862.html ).

The interesting thing about the proposed system (and Tomatenfisch) is that it uses a one-way water supply for the horticulture part, and water is retrieved by condensation. This way, the RAS and hydroponics systems "can be optimised in production parameters independently". There is an interesting video (although in German) on the Tomatenfisch site where you can see how the system works. It's high-tech compared to most aquaponics systems I've seen but I think it's well-thought-out.

48 milion Euro budget next 4 years it's more of Europe than EU participating and it includes small scale Aquaponics (urban)

http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/fa/Actions/FA1305

COST is the oldest bilateral sientific comunity in Europe (36 nations) founded in 1971

They have made a "Memorandum of Understanding"

http://w3.cost.eu/fileadmin/domain_file ... 1305-e.pdf

cut/past from COST web site :

A European approach is required in the globally emerging aquaponics research field building on the foundations of Europe’s status as a global centre of excellence and technological innovation in the domains of aquaculture and hydroponic horticulture. The EU Aquaponics Hub aims to the development of aquaponics in the EU, by leading the research agenda through the creation of a networking hub of expert research and industry scientists, engineers, economists, aquaculturists and horticulturalists, and contributing to the training of young aquaponic scientists. The EU Aquaponics Hub focuses on three primary systems in three settings; 1) ‘cities and urban areas’ �€“ urban agriculture aquaponics, 2) ‘developing country systems’ �€“ devising systems and technologies for food security for local people and 3) ‘industrial scale aquaponics’ �€“ providing competitive systems delivering cost effective, healthy and sustainable local food in the EU.

cheers

Thanks, I'll look into that! I'm actually starting a Bachelors thesis on modelling an aquaponics system very soon.

Great... looks really like a research for the future.. why only tomatoes and why not egg plants or okra?

"Cost effective, healthy and sustainable local food" we have been hearing this for ages.. what is new in this research minus condensation part?

I don't know if the focus is only on tomatoes (I doubt it), but tomato is a widely researched crop, which makes it easier to compare research. Also, a lot of cultivation parameters are known and there are extensive crop growth models available, which makes it easier to model integrated systems like aquaponics. I guess.

What's new is that they're using "1) innovative one-way water supply for horticulture and water retrieval by condensation, 2) alternative water and energy sources, 3) optimized filter systems, 4) intelligent sensor and management network for an optimized system construction and operation".(http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/111413_en.html). They're trying to make aquaponics commercially (more) viable by modelling, building and testing a concept that they hope is water and energy efficient, yet able to keep optimum production conditions for both the horticulture and aquaculture part (unlike other commercial systems).

Cool looks like your timing is perfect, with a litle luck this will be your way to a master on the subject
Good luck with the bachelor thesis

cheers

and thanks for the video link

In first glance it seems to me that this project at this state is not financially attractive. However, I am happy that similar projects to mine get EU agriculture fund related organizations interest and support.