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Sustainable Agriculture
What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a farming
technique that combines
aquaculture (growing fish
in tanks) with hydroponics
(growing plants in water).
In aquaponics water from
an artificial fish pond is
pumped into beds where
plants grow. Plants clean
the water and it's pumped
back into the fish pond,
and recirculated, saving
water.
How do plants grow?
Seeds are planted in small pots with
coconut husk. The coconut husk gives
them the right balance of air and
nutrient-rich water.
When foreign ungulates (hooved
animals) like axis deer, moufflon sheep,
and antelopes were introduced, they
grazed on the groundcover which had no
natural defense against them.
This caused massive erosion and
damage to beaches and reefs.
Why Aquaponics on Lana'i?
With deforestation, and damaged
groundcover, the land got hotter, and
that made clouds evaporate, reducing
rainfall.
This caused Lana'i to become even more
dry than it already was as a small island.
However, from 1922 to 1992, Lana'i was
used as a pineapple plantation.
Pineapples are native to South America,
not Hawaii, so after 70 years of growing
only pineapple, the soil was devoid of
nutrients plants need to grow.
Aquaponics to the Rescue?
Lana'i Aquaponics/Kumu Ola
Is dry Uses 90% less water than traditional
farming, because water is recirculated, not
absorbed into soil
Is infertile Creates its own nutrients by using fish
waste
Is dependent on imports Is local
Has high electricity costs Uses very little electricity/creates own
electricity via solar panel
Has damaged reefs Produces fish, easing stress on wild
populations
Aquaponics to the Rescue?
Lana'i Aquaponics/Kumu Ola
Is dry Uses 90% less water than traditional
farming, because water is recirculated, not
absorbed into soil
Is infertile Creates its own nutrients by using fish
waste
Is dependent on imports Is local
Has high electricity costs Uses very little electricity/creates own
electricity via solar panel
Has damaged reefs Produces fish, easing stress on wild
populations