Aquaponics New Novelty In Education (ANNIE) is an ERASMUS+ KA2 project in which several EUROPEA partners are involved. Rotterdam was the venue, from 13th to 16th of December, for the kick-off meeting of this project.
Aquaponics
Aquaponics is an eco-friendly, sustainable system for food production, a circular system where aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (plant breeding in water) come together.
The Process
The cycle starts with the feeding of the fish to produce ammonia rich waste, which accumulates in the water.
The effluent-rich water is essential for plant growth. So the waste water is pumped to the grow beds. The bacteria that is cultured in the grow beds helps to break down impurities and as a result, nitrogen remains, which is an essential nutrient for plants. The plant roots filter the water which now contains nutrients for the fishes, and is pumped back down to the fishes.
Aquaponics a sustainable system to grow food
Aquaponics is sustainab
le because the food is grown locally and not from far flown. And without the use of pesticides and antibiotics, so it is even healthier
and fresher. Aquaponics also supplies ten times more food per square meter, with a minimum of water consumption. This makes it ideal for urban areas and dry, nutrient-poor countries. Aquaponics can thus contribute to future food problems, the reduction of CO² emissions and 9/10 may reduce the use of precious drinking water for irrigation.
Aquaponics training for sustainable food production
The Aquaponics Training Centre will provide short training sessions to various groups within society and also to foreign students and teachers.
The Training Centre provides training not only as a lifelong learning process, but also an opportunity to obtain a higher qualification, to make a start to set up their own mini enterprise headed by Wellantcollege or to provide young unemployed an opportunity to develop.
The Aquaponics Training Centre can play a role by providing a pragmatic training for disadvantaged groups in the labour market. So they can set up an aquaponic setting within their own environment itself to provide their area of vegetables, herbs and fish, grown in an organic way. They also learn about water, plants and animals and that together form a complete picture of the ecosystem.
At Wellantcollege Rotterdam there is a demonstration lab. Such units can be placed anywhere in an urban environment to set up a sustainable way for food production. For example in abandoned buildings, sheds, greenhouses or community centres.
For further information
Please contact with the Project Leader Mr. Ton Stok A.stok@wellantcollege.nl
