The main objective of AQUAPONIC NOMA is to establish a network for cooperation between businesses, researchers and consumers in the Nordic region, in order to provide new innovations supporting a more competitive and sustainable aquaculture and food sector.
To achieve this, we want to increase the scientific and practical knowledge base when applying ECO-SYSTEM approaches in aquaculture and horticulture combined. We also want to investigate suitable fish and crop species for Nordic aquaponics in terms of growth, quality, effluents, temperature and nutrient balances. Further, to optimize management practices and technologies in aquaponics, e.g. treatment of waste water and solid wastes to protect the environment from pollution and pathogens.
The project group will try to design commercially viable aquaponic production models for the Nordic region and investigate consumer market potentials
including the possibility for eco-labelling and secure efficient dissemination and knowledge transfer necessary for a viable scientific and practical Nordic cluster formation in aquaponics.
WHY
A recirculated aquaculture system is a good start to a more sustainable aquaculture in Nordic countries. In Norway today there are problems with pollution of the fjords, lice and escaping salmon. For the horticulture there are problems with ground water pollution (Sintef Fiskeri & Havbruk, 2010).
In Iceland the focus is on the green circle, utilizing geothermal resources, clean water resources, land space, sustainable electricity, know-how and infrastructure for production of high quality food products for export.
In Denmark ‘Aquaponic Urbania’ will contribute to Copenhagen municipality’s political goals of increasing the amount of green roofs as one out of several means to become CO2 neutral in 2025. With ‘Aquaponic Urbania’ green roofs can be turned into productive green roofs, utilizing rainwater, minimizing CO2 emissions by lowering transport and packaging of food from fish to fork.
VISION
Combining the efforts in these three countries will strengthen the respective national projects and provide the opportunity to learn from the experience at each site, as there are different natural resources in each country and the selection of species of both fish and plants may vary.
WHO is in the project?
Project owner
Ingvar Hage
Bioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, NO
Project leader
Siv Lene Gangenes Skar
Bioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, NO
Project members
Helge Liltved
Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), NO
Jan Morten Homme
Feedback Aquaculture ANS, NO
Stein Uleberg
Aquaponics AS, NO
Asbjørn Drengstig
Hobas AS, NO
Rannveig Bjørnsdottir
Matis, IS
Sjöfn Sigurgisladóttir
Matorka, IS
Paul Rye Kledal
Institute of Global Food and Farming (IGFF), DK
Helge Paulsen
DTU-Aqua Institut for Akvatiske Ressourcer, DK
Nick Savidov
Government of Alberta, Agriculture and Rural Development, Bio-Industrial Opportunities Branch, CA
Lorne MacGregore
Lethbridge College, Applied Research and Innovation, CA
Erling Stubhaug
Bioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, NO