Researcher: Aquaponics shows potential of sustainable agriculture
Zamone Perez (Maryland News Connection)
Tue, 10/20/2026 - 05:00
Researchers are exploring how aquaponic agricultural practices could promote sustainable food production. University of Maryland students are even enjoying the fruits (or rather, vegetables) of this research in the school's dining halls.
Aquaponics combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants in water without soil) to create a circular system. The waste from fish provides plants with nutrients, and in turn, the plants help keep the water clean and oxygenated for the fish.
"Because of the small footprint... it can produce all year round and may help people to produce their own food," says Jose-Luis Izursa, a senior environmental science and technology lecturer and adviser at the University of Maryland.
Aquaponics' market share was $1.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to nearly triple by 2035. According to a 2022 UN Water Development Report, approximately 70% of global water consumption is for agriculture, using about 90% less water than traditional farming methods.
While Izursa notes that aquaponics is unlikely to replace large-scale agriculture for cash crops, it holds great potential for growing leafy greens and other specific crops.
The University of Maryland's aquaponics lab supplies up to 20 pounds of basil and 300 pounds of tilapia to a campus dining hall each week during the spring semester, with any surplus donated to the campus food pantry.