Advancing commercial food production through integrated fish and plant systems to meet the needs of industry and community

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Lethbridge College is a strategic centre for technological learning that serves over 15,000 credit and non-credit students in more than 50 diverse career areas. A leader in sustainable energy and ecology, Lethbridge College has established expertise in the areas of aquaponics, aquaculture, biotechnology, criminal justice, and agriculture. Accordingly, Lethbridge College has recognized that regional and global concern over existing supplies of fresh water and energy, coupled with subsequent strains on agricultural production, is an intensifying and complex problem for which few practical solutions exist. However, through the integration of greenhouse culture and aquaculture into an enclosed recirculating aquaponics system, Lethbridge College has helped to develop an intriguing resolution that not only allows for the year-round production of fish protein, but plant production at a significantly higher rate than traditional hydroponics or soil-based methods. As a result, several commercial greenhouse and aquaculture industries have adopted recirculation aquaponics as a viable method to increase production and profits. With over twelve years of experience and expertise, Lethbridge College is recognized around the world for its research in aquaponics. Building on the current success of its two-year, NSERC CCI-IE, that is dedicated towards optimizing and expanding commercial aquaponics systems, LC has identified the two most important issues facing the commercial aquaponics industry: 1) decoupled production and, 2) maximizing the economics of existing balanced systems. Addressing these two issues will enable the regional aquaponics industry to further expand and become an economically and environmentally sustainable food growing option and a model for other regions around the world.