LA ACUAPONÍA: ALTERNATIVA SUSTENTABLE Y POTENCIAL PARA PRODUCCIÓN DE ALIMENTOS EN MÉXICO

Abstract

Aquaponics consists in the integration of two methods of cultivation: aquiculture, which involves breeding aquatic animals, and hydroponics, for the production of vegetable crops from nutritive solutions. In this system, both products are benefitted from principles of water recycling and use of nutrients, since the latter are excreted by aquatic animals and taken advantage of by the plants cultivated in the hydroponic systems. The additional use that plants make of aquatic wastes constitute an outstanding advantage of aquaponics, since this process reduces pollution and increases water efficiency, in addition to reducing the environmental impact. Aquaponics allows reducing production costs by making a more efficient use of resources; it can be established at different scales of production, it increases economic profitability and diversifies the origin of financial income. Because Mexico shows high potential for the development of this activity, this review analyzes the main opportunities and challenges for food and agriculture production from aquaponics, with a brief description of the fishing and aquatic sectors within national and international contexts.