Most of our food today is being grown in soil. However, issues related to poor soil structures, land deterioration, water scarcity, and climate change poses several challenges to food production and food security (FAO, 2011; FAO & the World Water Council (WWC), 2015; Jenkins et al. 2015). Alternative food soil-based practices, specifically technical food systems, including hydroponics and aquaponics are being studied as a nature-based solution that may support the circular economy based on reducing, reusing, and recovering (Baganz et al., 2021; Jenkins et al., 2015). These technical systems provide nutrients to crops by either adding directly to the water (hydroponics) or by developing an ecosystem in which there is an establishment of a nutrient cycle between fish, microbes, and plants (aquaponics) that enrich water enhanced by a recirculating aquaculture system. Thus, crops devote most of the energy to grow instead of acquiring nutrients by the root system, and yields are increased substantially with the added benefit of reducing water use compared to traditional agriculture (Bernstein, 2011).
The Aquaponic systems are naturally dynamic and require a scientific, technological, economic, and social approach to succeed as a food production technology. One key factor in aquaponics optimization relates to aquaculture production, considering the need for having fish feeds that are nutritious and complete to the fish, and developing a feeding strategy that allows to provide nutrients to the plant component from fish waste production in a timely and consistently manner.
