Aquaponics: Tomorrow’s Farming

Audience

Secondary school
Learning stage

Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6
Learning area

Climate change, Science
Type

Learning resources

The combined challenges of population growth and climate change will require innovative, green solutions to food production. There are many ways to produce food around the world, depending on the environment.

Aquaponics is an important option to consider when thinking about increasing food production, while decreasing environmental impact. Watch year 10 student Jacob's 2-minute video for an interesting explanation of what aquaponics is and how it can make a green impact.

The human population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, which will require an increase of 60-70% in food production.
Aquaponics works because of the nitrogen cycle between fish, bacteria and plants.
Aquaponics tanks can be set up almost anywhere.

What role do the bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle?
Would aquaponics be able to produce certified organic food?
What type of relation is it between fish, bacteria and plants? How would they be affected by a change in the ratio of fish to bacteria to plants?

About the video

In Aquaponics: Tomorrow’s Farming Jacob explains how aquaponics is a form of fish farming. Aquaponics relies on the symbiotic relationship between fish, bacteria, and plants to create a holistic, sustainable food system. This is just one example of how the world can work towards greater production of food, while having less impact on the environment.

Sponsored by the University of Sydney, the Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize is a national short film competition that encourages school students to communicate a scientific concept in a way that is accessible and entertaining to the public while painlessly increasing their science knowledge. It is intended to support budding young scientists across the nation, who will be our future leaders in research, discovery and communication. You can learn more about the Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize here.