Environmental impact assessment of local decoupled multi-loop aquaponics in an urban context

Körner, Oliver; Bisbis, Mehdi B.; Baganz, Gösta F. M.; Baganz, Daniela; Staaks, Georg; Monsees, Hendrik; Goddek, Simon; Keesman, Karel J.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127735

Cited by 28 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Aquaponics is the coupling of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and hydroponics (HP) and a key feature is the dual use of water, which was first used to raise the fish and then to fertigate the plants [21,39]. A recent life cycle assessment (LCA) compared AP crop production with an available market mix in the Berlin metropolitan area consisting of imported and locally produced lettuce and tomatoes (Mix-DE) [41] referred to in this study as comparative-LCA. The packed and market available products originated from various countries and the respective transports to Berlin and storage were included.…”

Section: Secondary Analysis Of a Comparative Life Cycle Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We selected two aquaponically relevant species for fish production: Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The production parameters for tilapia were used according to the AP system modelled by Körner et al [41] for comparative-LCA, whereas the parameters for catfish were taken from a model case based on real production data developed by Baganz, et al [67] and extrapolated to year-round production. Farmed fish species determine many parameters of the RAS, including the stocking density, which in turn significantly determines the amount of nutrients contained in the nutrient water transferred from the aquaculture to the hydroponic unit.…”

Section: Upscaling Aquaponics Scenario Berlinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to understand its system dynamics, it is necessary to investigate the dependencies and causal relationships of variables by systems analysis. We use a comparative life cycle assessment on the impact of aquaponics on the local urban environment [41] and compare environmental footprints of different scenarios with a secondary analysis. Impact evaluation is supported by the concept of the Food-Water-Energy (FWE) nexus, which describes the interlinkages between these three sectors and can be applied to an urban context [42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Upscaled-AP scenario: Reduced impact of fresh tomato and lettuce production on three LCA impact categories; author's work and the calculation based on data from comparative-LCA[41].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Causal Relations of Upscaled Urban Aquaponics and the Food-Water-Energy Nexus—A Berlin Case Study

Baganz

Schrenk

Körner

et al. 2021

Water

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Aquaponics, the water-reusing production of fish and crops, is taken as an example to investigate the consequences of upscaling a nature-based solution in a circular city. We developed an upscaled-aquaponic scenario for the German metropolis of Berlin, analysed the impacts, and studied the system dynamics. To meet the annual fish, tomato, and lettuce demand of Berlin’s 3.77 million residents would require approximately 370 aquaponic facilities covering a total area of 224 hectares and the use of different combinations of fish and crops: catfish/tomato (56%), catfish/lettuce (13%), and tilapia/tomato (31%). As a predominant effect, in terms of water, aquaponic production would save about 2.0 million m3 of water compared to the baseline. On the supply-side, we identified significant causal link chains concerning the Food-Water-Energy nexus at the aquaponic facility level as well as causal relations of a production relocation to Berlin. On the demand-side, a ‘freshwater pescatarian diet’ is discussed. The new and comprehensive findings at different system levels require further investigations on this topic. Upscaled aquaponics can produce a relevant contribution to Berlin’s sustainability and to implement it, research is needed to find suitable sites for local aquaponics in Berlin, possibly inside buildings, on urban roofscape, or in peri-urban areas.

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Section: Secondary Analysis Of a Comparative Life Cycle Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Upscaling Aquaponics Scenario Berlinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Upscaled-AP scenario: Reduced impact of fresh tomato and lettuce production on three LCA impact categories; author's work and the calculation based on data from comparative-LCA[41].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Causal Relations of Upscaled Urban Aquaponics and the Food-Water-Energy Nexus—A Berlin Case Study

Baganz

Schrenk

Körner

et al. 2021

Water

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“…On the other hand, NBS_u that include greenhouses or are located indoors may require energy to regulate room temperature and to provide artificial lighting. However, high-yield crops or indoor urban vertical farming using hydroponics and soilless technologies (45) can substantially increase energy efficiency [73,74]. In addition, within the urban system, there is the possibility of recovering heat sources for food and biomass production that would otherwise be lost.…”

Section: Interfaces Between Food and Biomass Production And The Other Six Urban Circularity Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-Based Solutions for Agriculture in Circular Cities: Challenges, Gaps, and Opportunities

Canet-Martí

Pineda-Martos

Junge

et al. 2021

Water

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Urban agriculture (UA) plays a key role in the circular metabolism of cities, as it can use water resources, nutrients, and other materials recovered from streams that currently leave the city as solid waste or as wastewater to produce new food and biomass. The ecosystem services of urban green spaces and infrastructures and the productivity of specific urban agricultural technologies have been discussed in literature. However, the understanding of input and output (I/O) streams of different nature-based solutions (NBS) is not yet sufficient to identify the challenges and opportunities they offer for strengthening circularity in UA. We propose a series of agriculture NBS, which, implemented in cities, would address circularity challenges in different urban spaces. To identify the challenges, gaps, and opportunities related to the enhancement of resources management of agriculture NBS, we evaluated NBS units, interventions, and supporting units, and analyzed I/O streams as links of urban circularity. A broader understanding of the food-related urban streams is important to recover resources and adapt the distribution system accordingly. As a result, we pinpointed the gaps that hinder the development of UA as a potential opportunity within the framework of the Circular City.

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The intertwining issues of energy security, environmental protection, and societal development

Varbanov

2022

Clean Techn Environ Policy

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Environmental impact assessment of local decoupled multi-loop aquaponics in an urban context

Cited by 28 publications

References 35 publications

Causal Relations of Upscaled Urban Aquaponics and the Food-Water-Energy Nexus—A Berlin Case Study

Causal Relations of Upscaled Urban Aquaponics and the Food-Water-Energy Nexus—A Berlin Case Study

Nature-Based Solutions for Agriculture in Circular Cities: Challenges, Gaps, and Opportunities

The intertwining issues of energy security, environmental protection, and societal development

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