Purpose and Background

Finding sustainable and cost effective methods to feed populations is a familiar struggle for everyone, especially when resources continue to deplete. As the urgency to this issue’s resolution grows, researchers have looked toward several different alternative agricultural methods for local food production. In fall 2013, the ARC Research Club decided to turn their attention toward the cultivation process that utilizes the symbiotic relationship between aquatic animals and plants grown in water without the use of traditional cultivation systems--Aquaponics. This particular system is still within its infancy. Since there is still room to develop more designs as well as increase efficiency, the ARC Research Club will research the interdisciplinary mechanics of the system to promote personal sustainability while maximizing the production yield.