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Why aquaponics?
By 2050, we will need to increase the global food supply by 70% to feed 9.1 billion people. Meanwhile, soils worldwide are degrading, and water is becoming increasingly scarce. Agriculture is responsible for 70% of global water use and much of soil pollution. Therefore, we need nothing short of a revolution in our farming methods to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.
At Green in Blue®, we believe that developing sustainable farming alternatives is key to achieving this change. That’s why we work to empower change-makers worldwide with our aquaponics products and services, always aiming to find the best solution for our clients.
Because it addresses at least 4 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UN, the FAO has recognized that aquaponics will play a significant role in the future of agriculture.
How does aquaponics work?
Literally, aquaponics involves teamwork between fish and plants. The waste produced by the fish becomes a perfect fertilizer for growing healthy and nutritious plants. And when the fish get to work, they can cultivate a lot of plants!
Benefits of aquaponics
Aquaponics is an innovative farming method that combines fish farming with crop production. In essence, it is a zero-waste closed-loop ecosystem that recycles fish waste to create organic fertilizer for the plants growing in the same system.
In return, the plants purify the water for the fish. This symbiotic relationship gives aquaponics many advantages over conventional farming methods.
Without chemical pesticides and fertilizers
3 times more productive
100% plastic-free
10 times less water consumption
Why can't aquaponics get the organic label in the EU?
European legislation requires agricultural products to be grown in soil to be eligible for organic certification. Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 states that “organic plant production is based on nourishing plants primarily through the soil ecosystem.” Therefore, hydroponic cultivation, where plants grow with their roots in an inert medium fed with soluble minerals and nutrients, is rightly excluded from organic certification in the EU. Unfortunately, aquaponics is currently thrown in the same basket, even though it is based on a natural ecosystem generating it’s own biological fertilizer. We expect the legislation to change in the future as the industry grows and makes a case for itself, as it already has in the US, Australia and other countries.
Aquaponic certification
Green in Blue® follows best aquaponics practices and is affiliated with the “European Aquaponics Association” and the “American Aquaponics Association”.
The fact that our products can’t be labeled organic has not been an obstacle to the success of our products. Our clients understand and value our commitment to sustainability and top-quality local veggies.
