Aquaponic systems in emergencies

Abstract

With the constantly increasing world population, food insecurity is on the rise as a concern for many communities around the globe. Aid Agencies attempt to provide the necessary means to tackle the alimentary and nutritional needs of millions of people every year through different means, yet aquaponics is not within the standard mechanisms of response. In undeveloped or developing countries, aquaponic systems are mostly unknown, as majority of the research done in the last decades has occurred only in developed countries, increasing the expertise and associated costs required for its successful exploitation. Through the compilation of the developments of last decades, and merging it with standard humanitarian principles and procedures, is possible to bring in the necessary mechanisms which will give the chance to aquaponic systems to be the preferred option for a cost efficient, sustainable, and long-term response when targeting to reduce, eliminate or prevent food insecurity in emergency contexts.