US: Aquaponics gains momentum in Arizona

In 2012, Arizona was tied for the third-most aquaponics farms – both commercial and residential – in the U.S. and possessed the second-largest average aquaponics farms by size with an average of about 3,208 gallons of water per farm, according to research by the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center.

George Brooks Jr., CEO of NxT Horizon Group, an agriculture technology consulting firm, said he has witnessed growing interest in aquaponics, citing increased attention from traditional media and social media. He also teaches a new aquaponics course at Mesa Community College.

Part of the growth has to do with the demand for both fresh local produce and locally sourced fish. Research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests there is a market for local fish farmers.

According to its research, Americans consume about 4.8 billion pounds of seafood annually, yet more than 91 percent of our seafood is imported from other countries.

Brooks said he’s optimistic that aquaponics is starting to make its way into the mainstream, but he recognizes that aquaponics in Arizona faces some of the universal challenges of the discipline, such as finding ways to make aquaponics systems cost effective, ensuring proper food safety measures and making further technological advances.

An entry-level aquaponics system costs about $375. From there, the only additional expense would be a growth medium for the plants and materials for expanding the design.

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