Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, e.g. fish, and hydroponics is growing plants in a soilless medium. Aquaponics couples both systems. The nutrient-rich water from the fish unit is used as fertiliser for the hydroponically grown crops, therefore significantly reducing the sewage of the fish component.

However, larger aquaponic systems are not yet sufficiently established, often due to lack of system stability or economic profitability. The collaborative project INAPRO “Innovative Aquaponics for Professional Application” intends to change this and features a new water-saving combination principle of aquaculture and hydroponics which provides optimal production conditions both for the fish and the plants.