The history of aquaponic agriculture isn't clear, and creates debate for a lot of people. According to some people the aquaponic agriculture was use for the first time by the Aztec peoples1. The Aztec were raising fish alongside of artificial Island crops, and they used the dejection of fishes to fertilize the crops. This system was called chinampas. They grew different kinds of plants in these crops, such as maize, squash and other plants, in the same time of raising fishes.
Other people say that the first to use aquaponic cultures were peoples from south east asia, more precisely south China and Thailand. They were cultivating rice and fishes in paddy fields, the fishes cleaned the water fields of parasites and other illness, when at the same time provide fertilizer for the rice plant. Many types of fishes were raised, swamp eel, Common crucian carp, and ponds snails.
More recently the aquaponic culture continues its modern development. In north America, the New alchemy Institute and the North Carolina State University began to experiment this kind of agriculture during the 70's. Then the first recirculating (closed loop) and reciprocating (flood and strain) aquaponic system was develop by Mark McMurty, a student a that time and his professor, they tried to develop such system to help the third world, especially arid country, to grow their food and then be less dependent on importation. Today aquaponic culture is used in different countries around the world2.
In 1997 Rebecca L. Nelson and John S. Prade began the publication of the Aquaponic Journal which is a journal that appear 4 times in a year, it is a scientific journal that published scientific research and various plication for aquaponic culture, they wrote mainly for the integration of aquaponic agriculture in the mainstream agriculture and published research about sustainable alternative fishes food. they also offer aquaponic system, supplies, training and consultancy for professional use of aquaponic agriculture. The aquaponic agriculture system also have a great success in communities food program, the non profit foundation Growing Power offer to Milwaukee youth job and training for providing food for their communities, then similar project were spread in other cities.
In 2005 a professional aquaponic initiative was set up, and the Cultures Aquaponic M.L. was born. It is located north to Montreal Quebec3, it has already produce 1,4 millions Boston Lettuces and over 50 000 smoked trout filets, they produce all year long even if outside condition aren't really clement to grown food (Quebec has the same weather conditions and winter as Finland), and it is one of the first commercial aquaponic operation in the world. Research for aquaponic agriculture development are also present in Canada, and the Edmonton Aquaponics Society located in northern Alberta, provides small commercial sized equipment that can be used by restaurant families or small group of peoples.
Due to a overpopulation problem and small and poor quality agricultures fields, and water scarcity, an inter-organizational project try to encourage Barbadians to start running aquaponic agriculture at home for feed themselves and for selling product for tourist. it is a very good example of how a poor country with no space and poor field adapt its agriculture for reducing its dependance to food importations.
There has been error in communication with booki server. Not sure right now where is the problem.
You should refresh this page.