WHAT GOOD IS AQUAPONICS?

George Benjamin Brooks, Jr. Ph.D.*   Rightrac Inc. 4518 W. Sheridan St. Phoenix Az. 85035   george@rightracinc.com
When looking at the proverbial glass of water, the common question is, "is it half full or half empty?" However, an equally powerful inquiry is, "what can be done with the water?" The same is true regarding aquaponics. Most aquaponics research has focused on questions of production and efficiency. This study instead looked at how the products that are produced and the methods that are used to produce them can provide solutions for a wide spectrum of urban Social, Environmental and Economic challenges. For example aquaponics is already being used to address the need for STEM education, the elimination of food deserts and community revitalization. The results of this study strongly suggest that further exploration of this "flipped" view of aquaponics will open up new vistas and new opportunities to the industry.