Latin American & Caribbean Aquaculture 2019

November 19 - 22, 2019

San Jose, Costa Rica

DECOUPLED AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS AT UC DAVIS: FURTHERING SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE IN CALIFORNIA

Jackson Gross, Alexes Juarez, Nathan Kaufman
jagross@ucdavis.edu

Aquaponics is a mode of hydroponic plant production which utilizes biological nutrients from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to generate nitrogen and other water-soluble nutrients. At the University of California Davis, we utilize a decoupled system where water does not recirculate between the fish and plant production. The focus of our program is the reutilization of aquaculture wastewater and effluent to produce more food at commercial production scales. Currently, nutrients for the plant production systems are provided from white and green sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus, Acipenser medirostris) effluent . Fish are reared off-site in independent 2000 L circular tanks equipped with a bead filter. Nutrient-rich water is pumped from the fish tanks into our greenhouse while solids are collected and processed using suspended growth aerobic digestion at ambient room temperature. In our 279 m2 polycarbonate covered greenhouse we are evaluating various hydroponic growing techniques  such as deep water culture, nutrient film technique and media beds on an assortment  of  specialty  crops. The farm also includes independent vertical shelving systems with LED technology to evaluate efficiencies in tiered farming. This presentation will discuss the operation of the farm and our shared mission with the University of California Davis' goals for food sustainability.