THE FEASIBILITY OF AQUAPONIC DEVELOPMENT IN PHOENIX ARIZONA

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of successfully operating aquaponic farms in Phoenix Arizona. At 510 square miles, 43% of Phoenix's land area is open space largely devoid of development, a good percentage arable with access to various sources of irrigation.  Every 10 years all cities in Arizona must rewrite their general plan. Essentially the General Plan is the 10-year dream for the future of a city, zoning follows the plan and development follows zoning. Called PlanPHX, the document was adopted by public referendum in August 2015. A major focus of PlanPHX is access to healthy food systems supported by community gardens and urban agriculture.

Regrettably Arizona has been in a deepening drought since the mid 1990's.  Therefore part of the challenge in turning the new General Plan from idea to reality is the application and/or development of urban agricultural systems that are profitable and sustainable within Phoenix's hot, arid environment.  Hypothetically, aquaponic aquaculture (aquaponics) is one of the spectrum of agro-technologies that should be applicable in fulfilling these needs. However, little is known of how local social, technological, economic and environmental factors will affect the success or failure of aquaponic based ventures in Phoenix.

Using comparative case study methodology, this paper examines three operating aquaponic facilities in Phoenix Arizona. First investigating the technical, legal and economic constraints to aquaponics, this study then compares the operational experiences within the projects. From the information derived, recommendations were developed that could facilitate future aquaponic development in the area.