Sustainability of urban aquaponics farms: An emergy point of view

Aquaponics is a food production system that aims higher sustainability by integrating advantages gained from aquaculture and hydroponic production. to mimic the biological process happens in natural environment controlled system. As it can be applied small scales, aquaponics considered an important alternative for urban regions, which have low availability of agricultural land water resources. Furthermore, advantage located close final consumers. has been labeled as environmentally friendly system, but its demand energy materials cast doubt on sustainability. A systemic understanding systems needed determine magnitude balance between potentialities constraints, emergy synthesis appears powerful tool this purpose. This study applies assess two different (scale marketable products) farms Brazil, differently other studies, ecosystem services disservices are included analysis attempt represent performance holistically. Results show type used infrastructures highest influence total demand. Surprisingly, electricity fish feed showed emergy, reinforcing idea more efficiency feeding management than traditional systems. Besides producing vegetables fish, inclusion highlights importance educational tourism purposes. Finally, obtained indicators modeling scenarios revealed replacing source some deserves priority attention increase farms.