Aquaponics Market

Market Overview

The global aquaponics market size had a revenue worth USD 493 million in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 1,145 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.82% during the forecast period (2022-2031).

The practice of hydroponically growing plants while combining traditional fish culture is known as aquaponics. Due to the aquaponics production system's unique capacity to produce throughout the year, aquaponic techniques have garnered great acceptance among farmers. Since there is no need for any inorganic fertilizers using the aquaponics method, fertilizers are ultimately less expensive. Additionally, organic aquaponics farming is available throughout the year without using additional harmful chemicals.

Unpredictable weather has had a significant negative impact on the food supply in recent years. This market is projected to experience tremendous development prospects in the upcoming years due to such factors. Manufacturers and academics are attempting to increase the efficiency of aquaponic technology to boost the quality and output due to the growing use of aquaponics techniques by numerous farms worldwide. To introduce a variety of crop cultivations using aquaponics, many businesses in the market are making significant investments in research and development.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing Interest in Organic Fruits and Vegetables

Food security, both in terms of quantity and quality, is becoming more of a worry as the world changes. More populations can now acquire healthy foods because of the quick advancement of technology. By providing communities with access to organic foods, growers are enhancing the quality of life in those communities. Growing consumer awareness of environmental and food safety issues has fueled the expansion of organic farming over the past few decades. Similarly, applying chemical additives has prompted the use of organic products in the food and beverage industries. The demand for organic products is driven by the rising number of health-conscious consumers. For instance, according to the Organic Trade Association, organic food sales in the US increased by 12.8% in 2020, double the rise from the prior year.

The aquaponics market's growth is driven by increased demand for organic fruits and vegetables worldwide. Fish waste is the primary source of nutrients for plants in aquaponic systems, devoid of chemical fertilizers and crop protection agents. Aquaponic organic production is being encouraged by the governments of the world. For example, vegetables and fruits grown in aquaponic systems can be certified organic in Canada in 2018 under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. This is possible since Canada has adopted the organic aquaculture standard.

A new generation of organic farmers has developed an interest in the manner of intensive food production in a regulated environment during the past few decades. Because of this, the aquaponics market is expanding more rapidly. Therefore, increased demand for organic fruits and vegetables is fueling the market for aquaponic farming over the anticipated period due to rising health consciousness among households.

Market Restraints

Limited Kinds of Crops Grown and Fishes Raised

Although several fish species and other kinds of vegetables can be grown using aquaponics, the overall selection is relatively small. While freshwater and saltwater fish like tilapia and carp can be raised in the system, the variety of vegetables is only suitable for water-intensive plants like cucumbers. In this style of farming, crops that need insect pollination are not grown since insects are typically kept out of the growing environment. It is one of the difficulties associated with aquaponically cultivating such vegetables indoors.

When certain plant species are considered, the aquaponics system has problems. In contrast to aquaponics, which substitutes water for soil, some plant species, like tuberous plants and root vegetables, carry out most of their growth within the soil. Salmon, yellow perch, walleye, barramundi, hybrid striped bass, and largemouth bass are some fish raised in aquaponics but are not advised to be raised. Hence they are not suggested for aquaponics. Therefore, it is projected that throughout the forecast period, the global aquaponics market will be constrained by the limited types of crops produced in aquaponics and a few fish species that are not advised to be raised in aquaponics.

Market Opportunities

The Growing Consumer Demand

The global middle class's increased access to disposable income has transformed how people spend their money. Worldwide, there are more restaurants because consumers spend more money on food. Food produced locally is in higher demand from consumers, and aquaponics helps to sustain this local and regional consumption model. This is fueling the market's expansion even further. The search for sustainable farming techniques has arisen as a response to the detrimental effects of climate change.

Commercial farms are initially established as test sites to demonstrate the viability of novel technologies required for ecologically challenging or unusual operational habitats. These companies need to grow to fully exploit economies of scale and are looking for funding to do so. Farms are expanding to boost their yields and profitability, accelerating market expansion.

Regional Analysis

The region-wise segmentation of the global aquaponics market includes North America, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia Pacific.

North America aquaponics market is expanding at a CAGR of 8%. The United States is the prime revenue generator of the region. Population expansion, increased organic food demand, rising disposable income, technology breakthroughs, inventions, etc., are all factors driving the US aquaponics market. Major players made investments to grow the aquaponics industry in the nation. For instance, in Wisconsin, Superior Fresh LLC developed the first indoor recirculating aquaculture system and the largest aquaponics facility in the world in 2017, both of which are used to raise Atlantic salmon. The same water supporting eight green varieties is used to raise salmon and rainbow trout in the 40,000-square-foot fish-rearing facility.

In the future, aquaponics is anticipated to aid in rebuilding the American aquaculture sector. Over 80% of the seafood consumed annually in the United States is imported. As aquaponic farms proliferate, they will eventually enable the nation to import less seafood. As a result, it is anticipated that over the forecast period, the aquaponics market in the North American area will be driven by the rising demand for organic products, investments from large companies, and an increase in disposable incomes.

Europe will hold the second-largest share of USD 272 million, expanding at a CAGR of 7.5%. The aquaponics industry is gradually gaining prominence due to its growth in developing a ground-breaking new paradigm for ethical and sustainable food production in cities. The aquaponics market in the area has recently been driven by rising urbanization and population. The aquaponics farming sector in Europe has been driven by the level of technological input. Numerous businesses in the area are developing innovative technology for aquaponics nationwide. For instance, GrowUp Urban Farms uses a combination of aquaponics and cutting-edge vertical growing techniques to run the largest vertical farm in the United Kingdom.

Segmental Analysis

The global aquaponics market is bifurcated based on the growing system, facility type, fish type, and region.

Based on the growing system, the sections are Raft or Deep-Water Culture (DWC), Media Filled Beds, and Nutrient Film Technique (NFT).

The raft or deep-water culture section is projected to have the most significant revenue holding while growing at a CAGR of 8.55%. The plants are cultivated on polystyrene boards (rafts) that float on top of the water in a raft system, often referred to as a float, deep channel, or deep flow. Most of the time, this is in a separate tank from the fish tank. Water continuously circulates from the fish tank through the plant-growing raft tank, filtration components, and back to the fish tank. The raft tank and other system parts are home to helpful bacteria. The additional water volume in the raft tank acts as a buffer for the fish, lowering stress and potential issues with water quality.

The media-filled beds' section will hold the second-largest share. The category is further divided into Ebb & Flow (Flood and Drain) and Constant Flow. The ebb & flow section will have the most significant shareholding. The media bed approach is one of aquaponics experts' most widely used options because the design makes it simpler to manage. The grow beds are flooded and then periodically drained to operate the ebb and flow systems. A bell siphon drains the water when the water saturation point is reached. The bell siphon drains the water from the grow bed once it reaches a specific water level. Ebb and Flow systems favor the mineralization (breakdown) of solid wastes that build up in the grow bed and are generally more stable over the long run.

Per the facility type, the sections are Poly or Glass Greenhouses, Indoor Vertical Farms, and Other Facility Types.

The poly or glass greenhouses section is forecasted to hold the largest share, expanding at a CAGR of 8.3%. A developing trend is using aquaponic greenhouses to manage the conditions for the growth of various foods. Because aquaponics greenhouses are effective and affordable, many small-scale aquaponics gardeners have chosen to use them, allowing them to raise fish and cultivate crops all year. A practical answer to many problems with an outdoor aquaponics setup is to employ a greenhouse. Glass or plastic greenhouses have a lot of advantages. For instance, a greenhouse breaks the cycle of water evaporation, preventing excessive water loss from the system. Along with temperature control, greenhouses are made to assist in keeping the water in the system clean and clear of impurities.

The indoor vertical farms' section will hold the second-largest share. In a vertical aquaponics system, plants are grown in columns above a fish tank without the use of soil. This technique is well-liked by aquaponics gardeners because it is a water- and space-saving way to grow plants and raise fish. There is also a lot less chance of disease spreading through the soil because vertical farms use soilless growing methods. Numerous plant diseases attack the crops by wintering in the soil. Aquaponic indoor vertical farms use less water than conventional soil-based farming techniques. As an illustration, aquaponic farming consumes 90% less water than conventional farming.

Per the fish type, the sections are Tilapia, Catfish, Carp, Trout, Ornamental Fish, and Other Fish Types.

The tilapia section will hold the largest share, advancing at a CAGR of 9.32%. Tilapia is a popular choice in the aquaponics sector due to its inexpensive cost, durability, and quick pace of growth. A successful aquaponics system depends on fulfilling the specific requirements that each type of tilapia possesses. Tilapia is frequently chosen in aquaponics because of its resistance to diseases and parasites, its ability to handle a wide range of water quality and temperature challenges, its ability to survive longer in a toxic water environment with low oxygen or high ammonia levels, its ease of breeding, its tolerance of overcrowding in the fish tank, and their omnivorous nature, which allows them to enjoy diets made up of both animals and plants and negates the need for expensive fish food and tilapia.

The catfish section will hold the second-largest share. Beginners and aquaponics growers who want to raise fish in a system without a steady electrical supply will find catfish the species with the fewest challenges. Sufficient mechanical filtration allows catfish to be stocked at larger densities due to their high tolerance for low dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonia levels. Consequently, due to their availability and ease of adaptation, the catfish market is likely to expand in the coming years.

Recent Developments

• In 2022, Welbilt, Inc. sold Manitowoc Ice to Pentair, the world's leading water treatment and sustainable solutions provider.