Aquaponics is a specific technique for agricultural production that combines aquaculture (farming fish and other water organisms) with hydroponics (growing vegetables in a nutrients solution). By uniting these techniques – both considered to offer the best performance – their respective waste materials are turned into something useful: fish excrements feed the plants, while the plants filter the water which can then be added back to the water with the fish. Aquaponics systems thus reduce water use, waste and the use of synthetic fertilizers.

While expertise in aquaponics is taking shape in the French-Belgian region, it also faces several challenges that are typically associated with innovation, including a lack of training, expertise and accessible tools. The Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen project Smart Aquaponics will contribute to solving these issues.

3 digital tools

In order to promote aquaponics among local administrations and the corporate sector, as well as stimulate the implementation of the technique, the project will develop and launch three digital tools for use on smartphone or PC:

• an online training program (including a smart game and theoretical modules);
• a design support tool (to compose virtual aquaponics systems and perform simulations);
• a monitoring tool (to follow the status of the system and anticipate potential problems).

In addition to the digital tools, Smart Aquaponics will also publish an Aquaponics Guide.

Smart Aquaponics community

In addition to developing these tools, the project also sets out to actively promote their use by integration in the entire transnational network. Project partners Groupe One, Pôle Aquimer, VITO/Vlakwa and Pôle Légume Nord are responsible for organizing the propagation of the tools and the anchorage of the Smart Aquaponics community.

More information

Smart Aquaponics has received funding from the Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen programme and is co-financed by the Service Public de Wallonia – Direction Générale Opérationnelle de l’Economie, de l’Emploi, de la Formation & de la Recherche (DGO6).

Of the 14 project partners, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – ULiège acts as the project coordinator.

Project website: www.smart-aquaponics.com
Vlakwa contact: Charlotte Boeckaert