Aquaponics strengthens UK foothold
Run by Aquaponic Solutions and MacAlister Elliott & Partners (MEP) Ltd in conjunction with the British Aquaponics Association it was attended by 12 participants who received advanced training into the engineering of a commercial aquaponics system, along with aquaponics business training and product marketing.
A spokesman for MEP told Fish Farming Expert: “There are currently only a handful of commercial aquaponic ventures in the UK, which have created niche markets. Most of the current interest is from backyard hobbyists and the participants came from a mixture of backgrounds including, organic farmers, aquaculturists, hobby aquaponics enthusiasts and representatives from UK government bodies.
“Attendees came from Norway, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa and most wanted to set up a commercial aquaponics facility and were using the course to improve knowledge in advance of this. I think most left the course still wanting to follow this course of action,” he concluded.
Dr Wilson Lennard, a recognised global expert in commercial aquaponics technology and business development, presented the 16 hour, two-day workshop, which was designed to provide the participants with all the hydraulic engineering, component choice and design tools to enable them to design and construct their own commercial aquaponic systems.
“The course was designed to provide the most up-to-date aquaponic engineering and design knowledge for commercial aquaponic systems using the latest recirculating aquaculture and hydroponic plant production principles,” said Dr Lennard.
“The course also provided directed business information that could be applied to real world commercial aquaponic production in a small, retail pricing structure, niche market context,” he added.
Dr Lennard hopes that commercial aquaponics will continue to be adopted in Europe and that he can return regularly in the future from his base in Australia to teach more burgeoning potential aquaponic farmers how to adopt the latest design and management principles.
