Akvapona breeds catfi sh and grows vegetables in an aquaponics system

Fish production capacity to increase four-fold in 2021

The production of food requires the consumption of resources such as land, water, fossil fuels for energy, and nutrients, all of which are limited and are already being exploited at rates that are unsustainable. Changing this, so that food production systems meet human requirements while maintaining earth’s capacity to provide goods and services for current and future generations, calls for innovative and environmentally sound approaches to agriculture and aquaculture.

At Akvapona, a recirculation aquaculture system is used to breed African catfi sh and the water from the system fertilises plants in a greenhouse. This removes the nutrients, so the water can be led back to the fi sh.

Global population is forecast to grow to about 10bn by 2050 and to ensure food security for all, food production will need to expand by 56%, according to the World Resources Institute, from its 2010 level. Challenges such as climate change, pollution, degradation of arable land, and loss of biodiversity suggest that the adoption of technology, and the development of effi cient and sustainable production systems and supply chains are the only way to secure the production of the volumes of food required in 2050 and beyond.

Aquaponics could contribute to food security

Aquaponics could play an important role here as it has been identifi ed as a way of producing food sustainably. Simply put, it combines fi sh farming systems with the production, typically, of plants—vegetables, fl owers, fruits, and herbs—where the plants are grown not in soil or other substrates, but in water enriched with nutrients from the fi sh culture in coupled or decoupled systems. In the former, bacteria convert the waste from the fi sh into nutrients for the plants. Th e plants absorb the nutrients thus cleaning the water which is returned to the fi sh. However, there are currently very few commercially successful aquaponic systems in the EU, many of those that exist are pilot systems established by research organisations or non-profi ts. Th e lack of role models has not deterred a Lithuanian company, Akvapona, from cultivating African catfi sh in a system that is also connected to the production of vegetables and plants. Th e activity started more or less as a hobby in 2014 with a small system for the production of a few tonnes of catfi sh and some plants. It was hampered however by several technical issues. A couple of years later Vladas Vick nas, the founder of Akvapona, was joined by a Norwegian partner and a larger and more professional system was introduced for the catfi sh production.

African catfi sh are a robust, rapidly growing species with fl esh that has a texture reminiscent of meat. It has proved very popular in Lithuania where production has increased signifi cantly the last few years.

Production of the fi sh increased fi rst to 60 tonnes and then doubled 18 months later. A year after, the company set up a hatchery with broodstock to have a full production cycle, while at the same time continuing the experiments with the plants. A lot of information on aquaponics is available on the Internet, says Mr Vick nas, but we quickly discovered that it targeted mainly hobbyist which is very diff erent from commercial producers. Today the company has solved many of the technical issues that had caused problems in the initial stages and is in the process of completely renovating and expanding the greenhouse, where a lot of new equipment will be installed. Th e renovated greenhouse has an area of 1,200 sq. m and it is placed above the building housing the fi sh. Commercial production of the plants is expected to gradually start in a couple of months and if the results are as good as they were in the trials, then the greenhouse will be expanded with a further 2,000 sq. m, though that will not happen this year. Th e focus right now, however, is on the fi sh production which is being expanded further to 500 tonnes, for which the construction and equipment purchases have already started. Part of the reason behind the rapid expansion is that the company is processing the fi sh into a series of ready-tocook products, like fi sh balls, fi sh burgers, fi sh en croute and other easily prepared items. Consumers need less than half an hour to make them and they are tasty and healthful, so demand has increased rapidly.

Big increase in Lithuanian African catfi sh production the last fi ve or six years

Th e heart of the fi shfarm is its fi ltration systems. Th e action of bacteria, which are present in the biofi lms that form on the plastic elements in a biofi lter, coverts the dissolved nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from uneaten feed and fi sh waste into bioavailable forms that can be used by the plants as fertiliser. Th is mechanism, in addition to off ering benefi ts for the production of both fi sh and plants, signifi cantly reduce the environmentally harmful discharges from aquaculture production. At Akvapona this fertiliser was tested on the plants and gave very good results, says Mr Vick nas. However, the water must be treated properly as the pH for the fi sh can be 7-8 while the plants prefer 6-6.5. Th is means that the production system must have monitoring stations to ensure that the water circulating between the plants and the fi sh has the appropriate pH for each type of organism. Catfi sh are a fast growing (1.5 kg in seven months), robust species well suited to production in aquaculture. In addition, the fl esh is a dark colour and has an almost meaty texture making it popular amongst farmers and consumers alike. It is, however, highly sensitive to noise which can cause stress and loss of appetite. Five years ago, it was a relatively new species in Lithuania, but since then it has grown in popularity. According to the FAO, African catfi sh production in Lithuania grew almost seven times from 46 tonnes in 2014 to 311 tonnes in 2019. Today, says Mr Vick nas, it is everyday fare. Consumers buy our fi sh as a regular meal option knowing that it has been produced in Lithuania, is very fresh, and has a long shelf life.

Th e company’s facilities are located 90 minutes from Kaunas, a major logistics and distribution hub from where the product can get very rapidly to the rest of the country within a few hours. In comparison, imported products usually have a much shorter shelf life. Th e other reason for the popularity of catfi sh is the products that it is made into. At Akvapona some 20 value-added products have been created with catfi sh that are targeted at families with small children. In Mr Vick nas’ experience parents want their kids to eat fi sh, but it can be an uphill struggle. Th e products from Akvapona mix fi sh meat with other ingredients, vegetables,

herbs, and spices, so that, combined with the special consistency of the fl esh, the net result is not very fi sh like at all. In fact, in tests that the company carried out only 1 or 2 percent identifi ed the product correctly as fi sh, the rest thought it was meat. As a result, 70-80% of the sales is to families with small children. Th e fi sh balls are sold both fresh and frozen. Th e former have a shelf life of 3-4 days, while the frozen balls last much longer and are very convenient to take from the freezer and prepare. Sales are primarily within Lithuania, through the company’s own network of shops, markets, and the retail chains. Institutions, such as kindergartens are also among the customers, as well as a few restaurants. Another channel that has developed rapidly over the last year is Internet sales direct to consumers. Th ere are also a few customers in neighbouring Latvia for the fi sh and some German buyers have shown an interest, but the current production volumes are not enough to support exports to Germany.

All the family members have a role in running the company

Apart from cultivating and processing catfi sh the company also sells its excess production from the hatchery to other farmers. Some ten producers in Lithuania and another couple in Latvia regularly source catfi sh fi ngerlings from Akvapona. Currently, some half a million fi ngerlings a year are produced in the hatchery of which 150,000-200,000 are used for production while the rest are sold. With the production of market-sized fi sh set to increase to 500 tonnes, capacity at the hatchery will also be expanded to 1m of which half will be used and the rest sold. Th e hatchery was established with support from the EMFF and Mr Vick nas is very pleased with the way it has turned out. We have had smaller projects in the past, but this one was larger and very successful. It is, in fact, his daughter Monika, who is responsible for the hatchery, while Mr Vick nas himself takes care of the adult fi sh. Per Christian, the Norwegian partner, is responsible for the company’s strategy and its economy, and Mr Vick nas’ wife handles the processing side of the operations, developing and testing new products. Th is role is critical as the company is planning to explore the market potential in Poland and Germany. Precisely identifying consumers’ taste preferences and reproducing them convincingly will be vital for success on these markets. Th e size of the fi sh will also have to be adapted as consumers in countries like Germany and the Netherlands prefer smaller fi llets, while those in Lithuania, Latvia, and probably also Poland, prefer larger portions. As a result, fi sh for these latter markets are grown to 1.5 kg to give a fi llet of about 350 g which is the preferred size.

Production and delivery is around the year. As Mr Vick nas explains, the system is built so that the biomass in the tanks is at the same level all the time. Fingerlings are introduced and adult fi sh are harvested at regular intervals to maintain the biomass at about 20% of the annual production with minor fl uctuations. Th is allows the biofi lter to operate steadily rather than being underworked when there is little fi sh in the system and overworked when there is too much. It too is a living being and functions optimally when conditions are stable.

Most of the company’s products are processed in some way. Headed and gutted fi sh is available too but forms only a small part of the assortment.

Akvapona

Skaisteri g. 2C Skaisteri kaimas LT 13118 Vilniaus rajonas Lithuania

Tel.: +370 685 71762 info@akvapona.lt www.akvapona.lt

Partners: Vladas Vick nas (adult catfi sh production),

Per Christian (strategy and economy)

Activity: African catfi sh production Volumes: 500 tonnes (2021) Employees: 17 Hatchery capacity: 1m fi ngerlings (2021) Fingerling sales: 0.5m (2021) Products: Fish balls (fresh and frozen), fi sh mince, fi sh burgers, fi sh en croute, fi llets, fi sh headed and gutted Brand: Žuvies paštas Markets: Lithuania, Latvia Customers: Retail chains, network of own shops, restaurants, institutions

Vegetable production from aqua-

ponics: Lettuce, onion, tomato, cucumber