Studies & Sources

Scientifically-based Data & Analysis on Aquaponics

A systematic overview of the current research landscape – from peer-reviewed studies to practical applications.

📊 The Current Research Landscape

Aquaponics research is experiencing unprecedented growth. What once was considered niche technology is now the focus of international research institutions and documented in high-ranking scientific journals.

74.79%

Research increase 2020-2024 ^[1]

200+

Analyzed studies 1974-2021 ^[2]

105

Smart Aquaponics Studies ^[3]

98.2%

pH analyses in studies ^[1]

Particularly noteworthy: Research between 2020 and 2024 increased by 74.79%, reflecting the growing scientific relevance and interest in sustainable food production systems.

🗃️ Leading Scientific Databases

Aquaponics research is widely distributed and found in renowned scientific databases. Main sources are: Elsevier, Google Scholar, MDPI, PubMed, ResearchGate, Scopus, Springer and others.

High Impact

ScienceDirect/Elsevier

Premium studies on system calculation, sustainability and economics

Impact Factor: 6.5+

MDPI Journals

Water, Sustainability, Agriculture - Open Access Research

Open Access, Peer-Reviewed

Springer Nature

Technical innovation, automation, smart agriculture

Q1/Q2 Journals

Wiley Online

Aquaculture Society, Food Science & Nutrition

Practice-oriented research

PMC/PubMed

Health, nutrition, food safety

Medical focus

ResearchGate

Practitioner network, pre-prints, conference contributions

Community-driven

🔬 Current Research Focus Areas

Current systematic reviews show: 73% of studies deal with monitoring and control of aquaponics systems, while only 27% focus on prediction models. This reveals clear research gaps and potentials.

🔧 Technical Optimization (35%)

• System design and configuration
• Water quality management
• Automation and IoT
• Energy efficiency improvements

🌱 Biological Parameters (28%)

• Fish-plant combinations
• Nutrient cycles
• Microbiome studies
• Disease prevention

💰 Economics (22%)

• Cost-benefit analyses
• Market potential studies
• Scaling models
• ROI calculations

🌍 Sustainability (15%)

• LCA studies (Life Cycle Assessment)
• Carbon footprint
• Resource consumption
• Environmental impacts

🏆 Milestone Studies of Recent Years

2024: Nair et al. (Journal of World Aquaculture Society)

"Recent advancements in aquaponics with special emphasis on its sustainability" - Comprehensive analysis of sustainability aspects with focus on herbs like coriander, basil and spinach

2024: Springer AI Review (Artificial Intelligence)

"Applications, technologies, and evaluation methods in smart aquaponics" - Systematic literature study with 105 primary studies on smart technologies

2023: MDPI Water Journal

"Aquaponics: A Sustainable Path to Food Sovereignty" - Comprehensive review on SDGs, food sovereignty and 90% water efficiency

2022: Taylor & Francis

"Aquaponic systems: biological and technological parameters" - Analysis of over 200 research papers from 1974 to 2021

🔍 Research Methodology and Quality Assurance

The quality of aquaponics research shows in rigorous methods and comprehensive peer-review processes. Modern studies combine experimental approaches with theoretical models and practical applications.

Typical research approaches in current studies:

Systematic Literature Reviews: Several hundred sources are analyzed and categorized
Experimental Validation: pH measured in 98.2% of studies (sensors: SEN0169, HI-98107, pH-4502C), temperature in 92.9% (DS18B20)
Long-term Studies: Multi-seasonal data collection for reliable results
Comparative Studies: Direct comparison with conventional agriculture

❓ Identified Research Gaps

Despite intensive research, important questions remain unanswered. These gaps simultaneously show the direction of future research:

🔄 Prediction Models

Only 27% of studies focus on prediction - enormous catching up needed for predictive systems

📏 Standardization

Lack of uniform measurement and evaluation standards complicates comparability between studies

🏭 Scaling

Most studies focus on small systems - industrial scaling insufficiently researched

🌡️ Climate Adaptation

Regional adaptation to different climate zones and local conditions poorly documented

🚀 The Future of Aquaponics Research

The coming years will be decisive for the scientific foundation of aquaponics as a sustainable production method. Emerging technologies like AI, machine learning and advanced sensors are already revolutionizing research approaches today.

Digital Twins

Virtual system models for optimized predictions and system planning

Genomics Integration

DNA-based optimization of fish-plant combinations

Blockchain Research

Transparent documentation of research data and results

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Primary Research Sources

ResearchGate (2022): "Aquaponics production system: Historical perspective and adoption challenges" - 74.79% research increase 2020-2024
Taylor & Francis (2022): "Aquaponic systems: biological and technological parameters" - Analysis of 200+ studies (1974-2021)
Springer AI Review (2024): "Applications, technologies, and evaluation methods in smart aquaponics" - 105 Smart Aquaponics Studies
MDPI Water (2023): "Aquaponics: A Sustainable Path to Food Sovereignty" - SDG alignment and sustainability
Wiley JWAS (2024): "Recent advancements in aquaponics with special emphasis on sustainability" - Current developments
ScienceDirect (2019): "Aquaponic trends and challenges – A review" - Fundamental trend analysis
PMC/NCBI: "System design and production practices of aquaponic stakeholders" - Practice-oriented research