Page 26 - Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals

United for Smart Sustainable Cities
Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals

1 Introduction

1.1 Background
Aquaponics is a symbiotic integration of two mature food production disciplines: (i) aquaculture, the practice
of fish farming; and (ii) hydroponics, the cultivation of plants in water without soil. Aquaponics combines the
two within a closed recirculating system.
Aquaponics has the potential for higher yields of produce and protein with less labour, less land, fewer
chemicals and a fraction of the water usage. Being a strictly controlled system, it combines a high level of
biosecurity with a low risk of disease and external contamination, without the need for fertilizers and
pesticides. Moreover, it is a potentially useful tool for overcoming some of the challenges of traditional
agriculture in the face of freshwater shortages, climate change and soil degradation. Aquaponics works well
in places where the soil is poor and water is scarce, for example, in urban areas, arid climates and low-lying
islands. Anecdotally, aquaponics has already shown positive impacts on the local food production in cities
such as Cairo, Jakarta, New York and The Hague, though no data-based study has been conducted to date.
Despite this potential, commercial aquaponics is not appropriate in all locations, and many start-ups have
not achieved the desired success. Before investing in large-scale systems, operators need to consider all
factors carefully, especially the availability and affordability of inputs (i.e. fish feed, building and plumbing
supplies), the cost and reliability of electricity, and access to a significant market willing to pay premium
prices for locally-produced, pesticide-free vegetables. Aquaponics combines the risks of both aquaculture
and hydroponics, and thus expert assessment and consultation are essential.
As an integrated system, aquaponics touches on several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
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notably Zero Hunger (SDG 2) along with Good Health and Well Being (SDG 3) , Quality Education (SDG 4),
Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Responsible
Consumption and Production (SDG 12).

This case study presents an example of an urban aquaponics enterprise in the United Kingdom where the
aquaponics system is being used as much for supporting consumer access to healthy, nutritious and local
produce and the associated education therein contained, as it is used for strict food production. This
interesting case study therefore also serves to highlight the interconnectedness of the SDGs.

1.2 Challenge and response

In the future, the agriculture sector will need to produce more with less. Following the principles of efficient
resource use, synergistic benefits can be realized by integrating food production systems and reducing inputs,
pollution and waste, while increasing efficiency, earnings and sustainability. Thus, aquaponics has the
potential to support economic development and enhance food security and nutrition through efficient
resource use, and become an additional means of addressing the global challenge of food supply.

The production, transport and logistics of food can entail high environmental costs, and long-distance
transportation and long storage time further contributes to pollution and GHG emissions from large
machinery and infrastructure. Aquaponics can play a key role in enabling local food production that is fresh,
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free of pesticide residues and healthy, with short supply chains in the cities, thus addressing some of these
issues. Aquaponics does not require soil, and therefore these systems can be set up almost everywhere and
have the potential to urbanize food production. 12 In fact, aquaponics systems already have been
implemented in neglected industrial buildings with the benefits of re-establishing a sustainable activity
without increasing urbanization pressure on land. Local production of both fish and vegetables, and the

10 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

11 Note that aquaponics is not certified organic/biologic and some models still use pesticides.
12 EU Common Agricultural Policy

20 U4SSC series