WHAT IS AQUAPONICS?
Aquaponics is an innovative, soilless agricultural method where fish feed plants and plants clean water for the fish, creating a circular loop with no chemicals, super high yields, and low water use.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION IN THE AMAZON?
Modular, replicable structures that float on top of fish ponds and suspend roots into the water, sucking up nutritious water, cleaning the fish ponds, and growing lots of healthy crops to solve protein scarcity and develop food sovereignty.
SYSTEM STRUCTURE AND MATERIALS
Each unit consists of a floating balsa wood grid with bamboo shafts built into the balsa wood, which supports the plants while allowing plant roots to hang below the grid, growing into the water. Beneath the extended roots, native fish species circulate freely. Fish excreta provide ammonia, which naturally converts to nitrates through bacterial activity; plants absorb these nutrients, filtering the water before it returns to the fish—creating a self-regulating loop.
All materials are locally sourced and biodegradable:
- Bamboo and balsa wood for buoyancy and structure;
- Natural vines for binding and flexibility;
- Local fibres or woven baskets for plant containers.
This avoids introducing plastics or metals that could create micro-waste in areas lacking recycling infrastructure. The floating configuration allows deployment in ponds, lagoons, or wetlands, and its modular form enables scaling from household systems to community installations.
Additionally, it is entirely adaptable and can be modified to suit the particular needs of any plant. For example, tomatoes are vines, and they need solid surfaces to grow, so you can add a woven basket on top of the raft; or if a raft is not floating properly, you can fasten it to the ground with stakes or ropes.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
The systems function without external energy, relying on gravity and microbial processes for circulation. Daily maintenance includes feeding fish, harvesting crops, and monitoring pH and temperature. These tasks are performed by Achuar women farmers and indigenous leaders, supported through remote training via satellite and virtual guidance from the Irish design team via regular zoom calls, conducted in our common language of Spanish and WhatsApp channels for continuous Q&A between the two teams, using photos and videos as teaching tools.
ADAPTABILITY AND REPLICATION
Prototypes are being tested simultaneously in Ireland (Blackrock College, Dublin and Atlantic College, Wales) and Achuar territory in Ecuador, demonstrating adaptability across climates. In urban environments, the same circular model can operate on rooftops or courtyards using recycled materials. The system’s simplicity and open-source design make it ideal for educational use, training students and communities in low-carbon, circular agriculture.
In Dublin, we are developing an aquaponic system with Lucas by N The Club to demonstrate how urban communities can learn and produce food sustainably. The installation will supply a local restaurant while serving as an educational tool to teach residents about aquaponic growing and circular food systems.
Key Features:
- 95% less water use than conventional farming
- Zero soil degradation, fertilizer, or pesticide use
- Zero electricity consumption
- 100% faster crop growth compared to traditional soil cultivation
- Full biodegradability at end of life
- Scalable and replicable from tropical to temperate contexts
Together, these technical innovations turn aquaponics into an accessible, regenerative technology suitable for both indigenous villages and modern cities.
