Water Quality Management in Hydroponic and Aquaponic Systems: Potential for Inclusion of Green Technologies

In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, water-scarce countries especially the Gulf countries need to look for innovative and sustainable production of food for local and expatriate population. Controlled environment agriculture especially hydroponic and aquaponics systems can be made commercially viable under certain circumstances in Oman. Although significant number of hydroponic systems are in operation in Oman, the aquaponics systems are relatively rare. One issue not fully investigated is the environmental issues related to such systems. In hydroponic system chemical fertilizers are mixed with water and maintaining optimum water quality becomes a challenge. In aquaponics where fish is grown along with vegetable crops, the water quality issues are lot more critical. Maintaining water quality in both systems can be undertaken with green technologies such as limited input of chemical fertilizers and using natural methods to remove pollutants such as ammonia. Opportunity exists for method of food production using limited but highly treated wastewater. A change to fish and vegetable production using treated wastewater will contribute to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in the region. A comprehensive look into quality challenges in such systems in Omani conditions will be undertaken and appropriate ?green? solutions will be studied in the project.

In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, water-scarce countries especially the Gulf countries need to look for innovative and sustainable production of food for local and expatriate population. Controlled environment agriculture especially hydroponic and aquaponics systems can be made commercially viable under certain circumstances in Oman. Although significant number of hydroponic systems are in operation in Oman, the aquaponics systems are relatively rare. One issue not fully investigated is the environmental issues related to such systems. In hydroponic system chemical fertilizers are mixed with water and maintaining optimum water quality becomes a challenge. In aquaponics where fish is grown along with vegetable crops, the water quality issues are lot more critical. Maintaining water quality in both systems can be undertaken with green technologies such as limited input of chemical fertilizers and using natural methods to remove pollutants such as ammonia. Opportunity exists for method of food production using limited but highly treated wastewater. A change to fish and vegetable production using treated wastewater will contribute to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in the region. A comprehensive look into quality challenges in such systems in Omani conditions will be undertaken and appropriate ?green? solutions will be studied in the project.