About

One of the greatest challenges imposed by climate change is the ability to provide sustainable management of land and water resources. Integrated aquaculture-agriculture is an exemplary resource-efficient technology that allows for nutrient, water and energy recycling. Due to its controlled environment, aquaponics delivers fresh food with minimal resource inputs despite external climactic conditions. BLUE-CYCLING aims to advance current aquaponic designs with the goal of developing this technology through innovation in existing integrated fish production techniques and state-of-the art greenhouse designs in conjunction with permaculture and agroforestry approaches. Such technology, based on optimal use of water, waste and energy, will aid in achieving sustainable development goals for human health and nutrition, resilient food value chains, and local food production.

We will achieve this by: 

• Developing models that support the environmental, economic, and social benefits of different integrated aqua-agriculture technologies;
• Integrating results of socio-economic and environmental parameters into the design of new technologies;
• Examining demonstration facilities that are implementing permaculture and agroforestry practices.

Taken together, we will present reliable data on how integrated farming systems can contribute to agricultural resilience and deliver a meaningful understanding of new commercial applications, societal and economic goals for integrated farming, as well as policy change within this field.