Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME
Motivation and problem
The food production of tomorrow presents us with major challenges. Due to climate change and overfishing, the supply of fresh saltwater fish is particularly affected. Although “offshore” aquacultures ensure the availability of fresh fish, they lead to significant disturbance of neighboring marine ecosystems.
Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) allow fish from the sea to be farmed on land. Unlike conventional aquaculture, closed recirculation systems can reduce side effects in natural ecosystems and prevent the migration of non-native fish species. In addition, supply chains are shortened.
In order to promote the sustainable and secure supply of fresh saltwater fish, the economic viability of onshore saltwater aquaculture systems is to be improved. The “FishPlant” research project addresses this by combining the expertise of the plant experts at the Fraunhofer IME and the Aachen-based fish producer Aixponic GmbH to bring together the production of marine fish and high-quality marine vegetables.
Project objective and approach
The overall aim of FishPlant is to improve the profitability of RAS plants through the dual production of marine fish and salt-resistant food plants (halophytes). The project focuses on a combination of sea bream farming and the hydroponic cultivation of sea asparagus (Salicornia). This creates a resource-efficient and sustainable closed circulatory system in which - for example - the nutrient-rich, saline wastewater and the CO2 produced by fish farming are used for plant production, while the excess heat and O2 produced by plant cultivation are fed back into fish farming. The dual production of high-quality saltwater fish and food crops thus creates an optimal value chain and offers a high level of profitability. The local production of fish and vegetables also reduces the dependence on imported food, which is another economic advantage, especially for urban and arid areas with limited access to fresh food.
As a vertical farming expert, the Fraunhofer IME employs its OrbiPlant® technology in the project, combining it with the saltwater aquacultures as a technological innovation. OrbiPlant® has an aeroponic irrigation system that uses integrated nozzles to supply the plant roots with water and nutrients in a targeted manner. This keeps water consumption low and creates optimal, environmentally friendly production conditions without the use of pesticides and with minimal use of fertilizers. Looking ahead, FishPlant is aiming to implement the integrated systems across Europe to ensure a supply of fresh fish and marine vegetables.
