Aquaponics NOMA

108 Pages·2016·8.72 MB·English

NORDIC INNOVATION PUBLICATION 2015:06 // MAY 2015
Aquaponics NOMA
New Innovations for Sustainable Aquaculture in the Nordic Countries

Aquaponics NOMA (Nordic Marine)
New Innovations for Sustainable Aquaculture
in the Nordic Countries
Author(s):
Siv Lene Gangenes Skar, Bioforsk Norway
Helge Liltved, NIVA Norway
Paul Rye Kledal, IGFF Denmark
Rolf Høgberget, NIVA Norway
Rannveig Björnsdottir, Matis Iceland
Jan Morten Homme, Feedback Aquaculture ANS Norway
Sveinbjörn Oddsson, Matorka Iceland
Helge Paulsen, DTU-Aqua Denmark
Asbjørn Drengstig, AqVisor AS Norway
Nick Savidov, AARD, Canada
Randi Seljåsen, Bioforsk Norway
May 2015
Nordic Innovation publication 2015:06
Aquaponics NOMA (Nordic Marine)
– New Innovations for Sustainable Aquaculture
in the Nordic Countries
Project 11090
Participants
Siv Lene Gangenes Skar, Bioforsk/NIBIO Norway, [email protected]
Helge Liltved, NIVA/UiA Norway, [email protected]
Asbjørn Drengstig, AqVisor AS Norway, [email protected]
Jan M. Homme, Feedback Aquaculture Norway, [email protected]
Paul Rye Kledal, IGFF Denmark, [email protected]
Helge Paulsen, DTU Aqua Denmark, [email protected]
Rannveig Björnsdottir, Matis Iceland, [email protected]
Sveinbjörn Oddsson, Matorka Iceland, [email protected]
Nick Savidov, AARD Canada, [email protected]
Key words: aquaponics, bioeconomy, recirculation, nutrients, mass balance, fish nutrition,
trout, plant growth, lettuce, herbs, nitrogen, phosphorus, business design, system design,
equipment, Nordic, aquaculture, horticulture, RAS.
Abstract
The main objective of AQUAPONICS NOMA (Nordic Marine) was to establish innovation
networks on co-production of plants and fish (aquaponics), and thereby improve Nordic
competitiveness in the marine & food sector. To achieve this, aquaponics production units
were established in Iceland, Norway and Denmark, adapted to the local needs and regulations.
Experiments were performed to investigate suitable fish and crop species for Nordic
aquaponics in terms of growth, quality, effluents, temperature and nutrient balances. Further
efforts have been made to optimize management practices and technologies in aquaponics,
e.g. treatment of wastewater and solid wastes to protect the environment from pollution and
pathogens. The project has designed commercial scale aquaponics production models for the
Nordic region, and investigated consumer market potentials including the possibility for Eco-
labeling. The study has demonstrated that aquaponics may be a viable component in Nordic
food production, both at small scale (urban aquaponics) and in large scale combinations of
agri- and aquaculture. The results have been and will be disseminated to the public and to the
scientific community.
Aquaponics NOMA (Nordic Marine)
– New Innovations for Sustainable Aquaculture in the Nordic Countries
Nordic Innovation Publication 2015:06
© Nordic Innovation, Oslo 2015
ISBN: 978-82-8277-076-7 (Print)
ISBN: 978-82-8277-075-0 (URL: http://www.nordicinnovation.org/publications)
Production: Melkeveien Designkontor AS
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
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Publisher
Nordic Innovation, Stensberggata 25, NO-0170 Oslo, Norway
Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
E-mail: [email protected]
www.nordicinnovation.org
Cover photo: Siv Lene Gangenes Skar, Bioforsk Norway
Copyright Nordic Innovation 2015. All rights reserved.
This publication includes material protected under copyright law, the copyright for which is held by Nordic Innovation
or a third party. Material contained here may not be used for commercial purposes. The contents are the opinion of the
writers concerned and do not represent the official Nordic Innovation position. Nordic Innovation bears no responsibility
for any possible damage arising from the use of this material. The original source must be mentioned when quoting from
this publication.
Project participants
Norway Iceland
NIBIO Landvik (tidl. Bioforsk Øst) Matis
Siv Lene Gangenes Skar Rannveig Björnsdottir
Project leader/WP leader/ Researcher
Scientist researcher [email protected]
[email protected]
Matorka
AqVisor AS (tidl. Hobas AS) Sveinbjörn Oddsson
Asbjørn Drengstig WP leader/Aquaculture management
CEO/Consultant [email protected]
[email protected]
Feedback Aquaculture ANS/AqVisor AS Denmark
Jan Morten Homme IGFF
Consultant Paul Rye Kledal
[email protected] Director
[email protected]
NIVA/UiA
Helge Liltved DTU-Aqua
WP leader/Researcher Helge Paulsen
[email protected] Senior advisory scientist
[email protected]
Aquaponics AS (until winter 2012)
Stein Uleberg
Fisherman/aquaculture Canada
Cell phone [phone] Government of Alberta
Nick Savidov
[email protected]
Preface & acknowledgments
In 2012, the participants of the project decided to connect with a Canadian research team in
aquaponics, in order to share knowledge and experience. It has been a pleasure to cooperate
with Dr Nick Savidov from The Government of Alberta, Canada, and the project consortium
would like to thank him for his contributions at several Skype-meetings, and for his sharing of
knowledge and experience with aquaponics in Canada.
Further, the project consortium would like to express their thanks to Nordic Innovation for
the project grant and for valuable communication and help during the project period.
Last, but not least, we would like to thank Dr Randi Seljåsen from Bioforsk for her critical
commenting and many good suggestions to the report.
On behalf of the project consortium
Grimstad, May 2015
Siv Lene Gangenes Skar, Bioforsk
Executive summary
This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the current state and the future possibilities
of Nordic aquaponics, as a new way to produce food locally and sustainable. The analysis
includes an economic and technical analysis as well as system design, selection of suitable
plant- and fish species, investigations on plant to fish ratios, documentation of growth of fish
and plants. The results show that it is a possible to develop aquaponics systems suited for
Nordic conditions. In order to fulfil requirements in national legislations or the companies’
strategies, different system designs were used in the different countries.
The report finds the prospects of Nordic aquaponics positive as a new way to produce healthy
vegetables and fish locally by using fish wastewater as a nutrient supplier. The discussion
includes benefits of aquaponics food production:
• Extremely water efficient
• Does not require soil
• Does not use any chemical pesticides or fertilizers
• Daily tasks, harvesting and planting are creating job opportunities and can include all
genders and ages
• Can be used on non-arable land such as deserts, degraded soil or salty, sandy islands
• Sustainable and intensive food production system
• Two agricultural products, fish and vegetables, are produced from one nitrogen source,
fish feed
• Organic-like management and production
The work has also revealed some areas of weakness, which requires further investigation and
remedial action by R&D institutes and know-how companies. Discussion points include:
• Improving system design for optimal production of fish and plants
• Legislation in the Nordic countries for aquaponics start-ups
• Parameters to improve/increase investors/producers turnover
• Fish and plant requirements do not always match perfectly
• Knowledge on fish, bacteria and plant production is needed for each farmer to be
successful
• Expensive initial start-up costs compared with soil vegetable production og hydroponics
• Daily management is mandatory
• Energy demanding
• Requires reliable access to electricity, fish fingerlings and plant seeds
• Mistakes or accidents can cause catastrophic collapse of the system
• Reduced management choices
Before starting an aquaponics production, it is necessary to consider:
1. Where is the aquaponics facility going to be placed, water availability, legislation
(Mattilsynet in Norway, the Environment Agency and Local Municipalities in Iceland
and Denmark), fish fingerlings, energy, choice of crop, etc.?
2. Do I have the required knowledge? If not, where can I find information about this?
3. Do I have required licences for fish farming (concession, fish welfare course, etc.)?
4. Can I sell my products? Ask authorities for food safety (Mattilsynet in Norway, the
Environment Agency and Local Municipalities in Iceland)
5. Make an analysis of your market – to whom are you selling the products?
6. Enjoy your aquaponics production – there will always be a learning period in the
beginning of a start-up!
The project participants recommend continuing the work with aquaponics and sustainable
production methods within the blue-green sector. This project aims to understand the
importance of common knowledge, collaboration between companies/consumers/researchers
and those innovation products needs new research. Companies’ needs more knowledge for
construction of new system modules to make local food rural or urban and job-opportunities
to younger or un-employed people. Aquaculture and horticulture production sites need
manuals to understand how to combine