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Agronomy, Vol. 10, Pages 1468: Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Aquaponic Systems for Food Self-Production
Agronomy doi: 10.3390/agronomy10101468
Authors: José Lobillo-Eguíbar Víctor M. Fernández-Cabanás Luis Alberto Bermejo Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu
Aquaponics involves the simultaneous production of plants and fish and it is increasingly being used with a self-consumption purpose. However, there are uncertainties and little information about the economic sustainability of small-scale self-managed aquaponic systems. The objective of this study was to obtain economic information about these systems, including the level of commoditization of food production as a measure of their autonomy. For this purpose, two small-scale aquaponic systems (SAS) based on FAO models were self-constructed using cheap and easy-to-obtain materials and monitored for a year. A total of 62 kg of tilapia and 352 kg of 22 different vegetables and fruits were produced, with an average net agricultural added value of 151.3 €. Results showed positive accounting profit but negative economic profit when labor costs were included. The degree of commoditization was around 44%, which allows a certain autonomy, thanks to the use of family labor force.