Irrigation and Aquaponics: Technologies to Improve the

Quality of Life in Developing Nations

Paige Balcompez37@wildcats.unh.edu

July 30, 2015

Problems—Global Hunger & Water ScarcityHunger causes more deaths than malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS combined

70% of the world’s fresh water is already being used

http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Water-India-Big1.jpg

http://c85c7a.medialib.glogster.com/media/e1/e1aef550f55b95c5238e214d914e12192389e154b9cc69acb46f6366fcb54687/world-hunger7.jpg

OutlineU.S. InvolvementSolutions

IrrigationAquaponics

ChallengesPolicy RecommendationsConclusion

Why should the U.S. be involved?National Security

“lack of adequate food will be a destabilizing factor in countries important to U.S. national security.”

Economics50% lives on less than $2.50 a day

Agricultural investment is FIVE times more effective –

UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Current U.S. Involvement

USDA—food aidUSAID

Farmer-to-FarmerFeed the Future—training & equipping

farmers

Solution: IrrigationIrrigated land is TWICE

as productive as rainfed land

Only 16% of the world’s crops are irrigated

Flood: 45-50% efficient

Center Pivot: 90-95% efficient

Drip: 90-95% efficient

Solution: AquaponicsAquaculture (fish) + hydroponics (soilless

plants)Water recycled Protein

Cash crops

Organic

Weather resistant

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzpqxHwfWYuaZUV2MDBRVnJyQ1k/view?pli=1

AquaponicsEmerging industry

Some commercial ventures, mostly hobbyistsInternational Aquaponics Society founded 2013

Huge potential10x more productive

Raft System Media-filled Bed

http://www.aquaponics.com/page/methods-of-aquaponics http://www.aquaponics.com/page/methods-of-aquaponics

ChallengesFundingTrainingDistributionAquaponics Data http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/

articleId/7979/Poor-Roads-Affecting-Business-In-Lakes-State.aspx

https://www.feedthefuture.gov/training-farmers-mozambiquehttp://midatlantic.aaa.com/~/media/Images/Banking/Travel%20Money%20Products/currency.ashx

http://www.amstat.org/publications/jse/v17n1/ernst.html

Policy Recommendations—AquaponicsAquaponics Pilot Study

Innovation LabAquaponics Farmer-to-FarmerCollect Aquaponics Statistics

Existing surveys

Policy Recommendations—Irrigation & Aquaponics Funding

Increase Public-Private Partnerships (PPP’s)Country-designed Funding Schemes

PPP provides irrigation in Ghana

Policy Recommendations—Irrigation & Aquaponics

Authorize Feed the FutureGlobal Food Security Act of 2015 (H.R.1567 &

S.1252)

Conclusion

Source: https://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/vulture-stalking-a-child/

Agricultural investment is FIVE times more effective at reducing

poverty and hunger than investment in any other sector – UN

Food and Agriculture Organization

Supporting Slides

Irrigation around the World

Source: UN FAO http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/irrigationmap/index.stm

Water Losses in Irrigation

Irrigation System;

15%

Water Ef-fectively Used by

Crops; 45%

Farm Distribu-tion; 15%

Farm Applica-

tion; 25%

Source: UN FAO http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0262e/x0262e01.htm

History of Aquaponics

1000 AD: Aztecs planted on rafts

1980s-90s: beginning of modern aquaponics

Commercial ventures & hobbyists

2013: Formation of International Aquaponics Society

25-265 AD: Rice-fish cultures in SE Asia

ChallengesFundingSustainabilityDistributionHolistic Farming Regional

DifferencesCultural

Acceptance