Best practises in soilless farming, aquaponics and multitrophic systems
Want to know how to grow fish and vegetables in the same closed loop symbiotic and sustainable ecosystem? Learn about Aquaponics and master this technique!
Soilless farming can be a very sustainable productive alternative to conventional crop and fish farming.
Aquaponics is a very efficient and intensive production system to grow fish and vegetables.
Soilless farming requires small areas of land, low on resource intensity (water, energy and labor), no waste and no unusable by-products while delivering remarkably high quantity of fresh food. In recent years, new techniques have emerged making aquaponics more efficient providing even greater food safety.
Aquaponics is an excellent alternative to achieve food security and increase access to fresh, highly nutritional and pesticide free food, particularly in urban locations, where land and water are becoming expensive resources. With several learning levels, the course takes you from the most basic knowledge to the most advanced level, so that you acquire the skills to explore an aquaponics commercial unit, deal with the challenges and learn about the state-of-the-art technologies.
This first course will go through the basics and will teach you the most important principles of operating an aquaponic system, the biology, the equipment, the balance relationship between aquatic animals and plants, the main parameters, and the chemistry involved. We will also complement theoretical online training with hands-on practical sessions, so that you become able to start your own experimental system.
Recipients
This course is aimed at professionals in agriculture and aquaculture, landowners, academic or private researchers, entrepreneurs, teachers, students in the areas of biology, aquaculture and agronomy, aquarists and others interested in sustainable and innovative production of fresh food on a small or large scale.
Pre-Requisites
Trainees do not require relevant previous skills or academic qualifications. A device with a good connection to the Internet is required, technically allowing to attend videoconferences and watch online videos. This first course will be in English language.
Objectives
By completing this course, you will have acquired the technical knowledge on:
- principles of operation of an aquaponics system
- identification of the main equipment used in a closed loop aquaponics system
- sizing a balanced aquaponics system (aquaculture / hydroponics components)
- fish and plant husbandry main principles
- selection of species (pros and cons)
- main parameters to monitor and control
- maintenance and operation procedures
- production estimates.
Theoretical online training will be complemented with practical hands-on sessions.
Certification
This training is delivered by the F4S Learning Academy and covers theory, new trends, all complemented with practical case(s) with onsite visit(s) and practical ativities. At the end, participants will receive a certificate of completion.
F4S Learning Academy is the educational arm of F4S collaborative laboratory, CoLab, recognized from the Portuguese scientific-technological system, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, FCT.
Starting date
The online content and activities will start to become available on 29th March 2021. You may subscribe this course anytime now and start attending immediately after starting date!
Duration
The course is estimated to end 3 months after the starting date. The hourly time to be spent by each trainee depends on their pace of participation, and we estimate a total of about 25 hours for viewing content and participating in activities. Trainees should manage time accordingly, so that to keep pace with activities and not leave behind lessons and quizzes. The course ends after viewing the contents of all lessons, completing all quizzes, participating in synchronous sessions and participating in face-to-face practical sessions. Practical sessions in site will be later scheduled and are expected to occur in June 2021, subject to the lifting of sanitary restrictions imposed by the Portuguese Government.
VAT (IVA 23%) already included in the price.
Course Features
- Lectures 62
- Quizzes 9
- Duration 25 hours (in 3 months)
- Language English
- Students 0
- Certificate Yes
- Assessments Self
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Module 01 - INTRODUCTION
Introduction and presentation, what is AQUAPONICS, benefits and advantages, history of aquaponics and some examples in the world
- Lesson 1 – Course introduction, presentation and methodology
- Lesson 2 – Current challenges facing humanity and the food sector (agriculture / aquaculture and fisheries)
- Lesson 3 – What is aquaponics
- Lesson 4 – Benefits and advantages of aquaponics
- Lesson 5 – The History of Aquaponics
- Lesson 6 – Examples of aquaponics systems in the world
- Quiz 1
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Module 02 - STRUCTURE OF THE AQUAPONICS SYSTEM
The architecture of the aquaponics system and its components
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Module 03 - TYPES OF HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS FOR AQUAPONICS
Most common hydroponics techniques used for aquaponics
- Lesson 12 – Deep Water Culture (floating raft system)
- Lesson 13 – NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)
- Lesson 14 – Media bed (substrate)
- Lesson 15 – Bell siphon
- Lesson 16 – Other formats (vertical towers / multilevel / aeroponics / wicking bed)
- Lesson 17 – Location options (outdoor / greenhouse / indoor)
- Quiz 3
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Module 04 - AQUAPONICS ESSENTIALS
The essential foundations for the symbiotic aquaponics ecosystem operation
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Module 05 - BIOLOGICAL AND MINERAL PARAMETERS AND COMPONENTS
The physical-chemical parameters that require monitoring and control and the ideal levels
- Lesson 21 – The water and its source
- Lesson 22 – pH
- Lesson 23 – Air and water temperature
- Lesson 24 – Ammonia
- Lesson 25 – Nitrite
- Lesson 26 – Nitrate
- Lesson 27 – Carbon dioxide
- Lesson 28 – Carbonate hardness (KH) and General hardness (GH)
- Lesson 29 – Dissolved oxygen (DO)
- Lesson 30 – TDS (total dissolved solids) and conductivity
- Lesson 31 – TSS (total suspended solids), transparency and water color
- Quiz 5
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Module 06 - THE PLANTS
Their requirements, their role and growing stages in aquaponics
- Lesson 32 – Plants needs
- Lesson 33 – Primary macronutrients, secondary macronutrients and micronutrients
- Lesson 34 – Nutrients that require greater monitoring in aquaponics (NO3-, Fe, Ca and K)
- Lesson 35 – Basic aspects of plants
- Lesson 36 – Sowing and Germination
- Lesson 37 – Transplantation
- Lesson 38 – Growing in the system
- Lesson 39 – Harvesting
- Quiz 6
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Module 07 - THE FISHES
The importance and needs of fish in aquaponics and the selection of species according to the location and production goals
- Lesson 40 – The importance of fish protein
- Lesson 41 – RAS (recirculating aquaculture systems)
- Lesson 42 – Intensity and forms of aquaculture
- Lesson 43 – Basic aspects of fish biology and diet (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores)
- Lesson 44 – Selection of species for aquaponics
- Lesson 45 – Species with the greatest potential in aquaponics
- Lesson 46 – The most important parameters to observe and control
- Lesson 47 – Aeration
- Lesson 48 – Stock density
- Lesson 49 – Feeding
- Quiz 7
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Module 08 - SYSTEM PLANNING AND DESIGN
How to plan and design the aquaponic system according to the available area, the desired production and the fundamental balance between aquaculture and hydroponics
- Lesson 50 – The area to be occupied in relation to the desired production and the space occupation relationships between the 2 components (aquaculture / hydroponics)
- Lesson 51 – Sizing of aquaculture production (variables and production calculation)
- Lesson 52 – Calculation of daily feed
- Lesson 53 – Sizing of the hydroponic structure (media beds)
- Lesson 54 – Sizing of the hydroponic structure (NFT and DWC)
- Lesson 55 – Calculation of hydroponic production
- Quiz 8
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Module 09 - AQUAPONICS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly care and intervention needs... by the aquaponics farmer
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Module 10 - HANDS-ON PRACTICAL SESSION
Live practical training session using operating aquaponic system(s), equipment and materials