HOW MARKET NEEDS INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY AFFECT THE DESIGN AND USAGE OF AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS  

Freshwater Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture aka Aquaponics is an innovation. As suggested by Geoffrey Moore in his book "Crossing the Chasm," for an innovation to survive it must meet the needs of the market. Most importantly the needs of those markets do not remain the same over time. This is the place where aquaponics is today. The needs of the mainstream/early majority such as cost effectiveness and compliance with food safety protocols are different than from those of the early adopters whose work has driven much of aquaponic development so far.  This paper investigates how the needs of the burgeoning mainstream market are affecting how aquaponic systems are being designed and applied.