Page 23 - AWA Vol.41-No.8

FISHERIES AND FISH FARMING

chemical fertilizers or pesticides al-
lowed, aquaponic produce is excep-
tionally clean and healthy.
• No arable land required: Systems
can be built near urban areas, close
to the market.
• Low running costs: After the initial
setup, operational costs are relatively
low. The main input is fish feed, which
can be partially replaced by culti-
vating duckweed within the system.
Costs and income are predictable.
• Climate adaptable: Greenhouse
structures can be tailored for any cli-
mate, from desert heat to cool high-
lands.
The Kleinskuur Aquaponics story
The seed for Kleinskuur Aquaponics In aquaponics, fish not only provide nutrients for the plants but also generate about a third of the total
was planted about 18 years ago when income.
Colin Bremner from South Africa was proved difficult. The only solution sity of Stellenbosch. Colin attended,
diagnosed with Barrett’s disease (a was to grow them himself. and soon after, Kleinskuur Aquapon-
precancerous condition of the oe- After experimenting with hydropon- ics was born near Pretoria, South Af-
sophagus).
ics, Colin realised that without syn- rica.
“The doctor gave me four options,” thetic fertilizers and pesticides, crops Today, the company designs, devel-
he recalls, “chemo, radiation, coffin, would fail. His search led him to the ops, and builds aquaponic systems
or cremation.”
work of Dr. James Rakocy of the Uni- across Africa and is expanding into
Determined to find a fifth option — versity of the Virgin Islands (UVI), a the Middle East. Their systems are
healing through food — Colin set out pioneer in commercial aquaponics. cost-effective, robust, and easy to
to discover natural ways to produce manage.
chemical-free nutrition. Processed In 2015, Murray Hallam from Austra-
foods containing preservatives, co- lia — a student of Dr. Rakocy and a “Kleinskuur” means “Little Barn” —
lourants, and sugars were eliminated, leading aquaponics innovator — pre- because that’s where the idea was
but finding truly healthy vegetables sented a Master Class at the Univer- born.

Circle 25 on enquiry card

A Kleinskuur Aquaponics system in rural Zimbabwe provides healthy food A wide variety of fruiting crops can be grown in the patented Kleinskuur
and income for a local community. Gravel Barrel system. Circle 20 on enquiry card
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