LET US GO INTO AQUAPONICS TO PRODUCE MORE FOOD AND SOLVE HUNGER

LET US GO INTO AQUAPONICS TO PRODUCE MORE FOOD AND SOLVE HUNGER

By now, we all know the warnings: while land and water may not yet be scarce, we could one day face the reality of having too little of either to grow enough food. This isn’t a science-fiction scenario—it’s the simple math of resource depletion. And when that day comes, those who prepared early will still have something to eat.

One way to prepare? Aquaponics.

If you haven’t heard of it, aquaponics is the marriage of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water). Fish waste feeds the plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish. It’s a neat, self-contained cycle—and it uses about 90% less water than traditional farming because the water is recirculated.

That’s already a huge advantage. Even if our rivers and lakes never run dry, pollution might one day make them unfit for raising fish. And even if our seas remain full, climate change is already making fishing harder: storms wreck coastal fish cages and bad weather keeps fishermen from going out. With aquaponics, we can raise fish and vegetables together in controlled environments—safe from storms, safe from pollution. We can even grow fruits and root crops with the right system.

Here’s more good news: aquaponics can be done almost anywhere. In the highlands, indigenous cultural communities could run their own systems. In the middle of cities, vacant lots, rooftops, and even unused buildings can be converted. Local designs, like those from Vantaztic, Inc., show that urban aquaponics can work on small or large scales.

We also already have the expertise. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and our State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) have trained people who can design and operate these systems.

Urban aquaponics also makes economic sense. Fish grown in the city don’t need long trips in refrigerated trucks, so transport costs drop—and sometimes disappear. That means prices could be lower for consumers, and the fish could be so fresh they’re still alive when sold.

Of course, aquaponics is not without challenges. Setting up the systems can be expensive, and pumps and monitoring equipment need electricity. Operators must understand both aquaculture and horticulture—two different skill sets that need to work in harmony. But this is where government and private sector partnerships can make a difference. Training programs, subsidies, and low-interest loans could help families, cooperatives, and schools start their own systems.

Speaking of schools—this is an area where we could really plant the seeds (literally and figuratively). Imagine if every public high school had an aquaponics project. Students would learn biology, chemistry, and sustainability while producing actual food for their community. That’s education and nutrition rolled into one.

Globally, the urgency is clear. The United Nations says 800 million people are undernourished. The Food and Agriculture Organization warns that by 2050, food demand will rise by 59–98%. If we stick to the old ways of farming, we’ll need more land, more water, and more chemical inputs—things we might not have. Aquaponics sidesteps many of those limits: no soil, minimal water use, no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and the ability to operate in urban centers or remote areas alike.

And the yields are impressive. Lettuce that takes 60 days to grow in soil can be ready in about 36 days in aquaponics. Farmers can harvest three to four times more food per square meter compared to conventional farming. And because there’s no tilling, no weeds, and no heavy machinery, the energy and labor inputs are lower.

I’m not saying we abandon traditional farming. Rice paddies, coconut farms, and fruit orchards will still have their place. But we need to diversify. We need farming systems that are climate-resilient, water-efficient, and adaptable to both rural and urban settings.

Aquaponics checks all those boxes. And the sooner we start, the better. The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to catch up when resource scarcity starts biting hard.

The government should seriously consider a national aquaponics program. Imagine every barangay with its own fish-and-vegetable facility, supplying fresh, affordable, chemical-free food right where it’s needed. Imagine communities producing their own protein and greens, cutting dependency on long supply chains that can be disrupted by typhoons, fuel shortages, or global crises.

Hunger is not an unsolvable problem—it’s a planning problem. Aquaponics is one of the tools that could help us plan our way out of it. And while there’s still enough land and water, we should invest in systems that will keep feeding us when those resources are no longer as abundant.

The future of food is already here. It’s swimming in tanks and growing in beds of recirculated water. Let’s not wait for hunger to become an emergency before we take it seriously.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

10-14-2025