September 27, 2016 — MADBURY, NH — A researcher at the University of New Hampshire hopes to increase local food production through an integrated land-based aquaculture and hydroponic plant production system.
Todd Guerdat, an assistant professor of agricultural engineering, is leading a series of studies at Kingman Research Farm in Madbury.
He and others are taking waste nutrients from fish and using them for plants.
In three greenhouses, they are trying to determine if higher protein diets are more beneficial for plant production.
“The goal is to use all the nutrients from the feed, without having to supplement anything,” Guerdat said.
Researchers are using tilapia because they are efficient, cheap and reliable, but researchers hope is to start using cold water fish such as striped bass.
Guerdat said that if they are successful, more seafood can be raised on the local level.
According to Guerdat, more than half of the world’s seafood is farmed and 90 percent of the seafood Americans eat is imported, resulting in an annual trade deficit of nearly $11 billion.
“We are food insecure when it comes to seafood,” Guerdat said. He said there are companies that are already implementing similar systems, including Victory Aquaponics in Londonderry.