Wassergarten: Fish and vegetable production in one system

Point of Departure

Simon Kaiblinger plans to take over his parents' farm in the near future. By investing in an aquaponics system, he and his wife Alina wanted to create a new economic mainstay on the farm alongside their existing pig farming in order to broaden the business for the upcoming takeover. The system enables fish farming and vegetable production in a single, shared water and nutrient cycle – and does so in an energy-efficient and water-saving manner. While the fish provide valuable nutrients for the vegetables, the plants contribute to maintaining high water quality.

African catfish are particularly well suited because they are almost boneless, relatively robust, and can breathe atmospheric oxygen in addition to the oxygen in the water. Additionally, there was also sufficient space on the farm to build fish tanks and a polytunnel for growing vegetables. In recent years, this – combined with direct marketing – has developed into an interesting business branch.

Targets and Target Groups

The key objectives of the project, supported by the Austrian EMFAF programme, include:

• Water-saving and energy-efficient production of fish and vegetables in a closed water and nutrient cycle
• Increased regional added value (marketing of high-quality products in and for the region)
• Short transport routes to customers

The following target groups are being addressed:

• Customers
• Food retailers and regional restaurants

In addition, the measures implemented also serve to secure the long-term economic viability of the farm through appropriate diversification measures (creation of new business opportunities and direct marketing).

Project Implementation and Measures

With a view to the future takeover of the farm by the project initiator, the business was reoriented away from a part-time business in pig fattening to a full-time business in fish farming – complemented by vegetable production and direct marketing.

After a four-year trial phase of the existing facility and full capacity utilization, a new building became necessary to establish this branch of the business as a permanent economic mainstay. In the course of implementing this project supported by the Austrian EMFAF programme, investments and activities were made in the following areas (among others):

• New aquaponics facility
• Slewing crane to facilitate work
• Fence as fall protection at the fish tanks
• Heat exchangers for heat recovery and hall ventilation

Use of air lifts (instead of water pumps) for more energy-efficient water and oxygen exchange

Results and Effects

• Increase in annual production by approximately 15 tons: The new facility will allow a larger number of fish to be produced more efficiently, more cost-effectively, and more energy-efficiently than before.
• Increased income and creation of a full-time job on the farm;
• Easier workload and increased safety at work;
• Resource-efficient production: Water savings through a closed circulation system and heating using the existing wood chip heating system at low temperatures;

Collaboration with other direct marketers, self-service stores, private food retailers, and regional restaurants.