With the continual growth of aquaponics, many entrepreneurs and hobbyists alike are taking on the practice. T he wide range of applications and multidisciplinary designs provide mixed results as well as a vast range of successes and failures. In order to better understand the industry , a thorough investigation of the current trends and sentiments is necessitated. Aquaponics could benefit from a stronger and more comprehensive online presence to help bolster its appeal.
The research was a combination of three separate projects combined to make an integrated analysis. First, a sentiment analysis was performed in R software surrounding the keyword "aquaponics" in Twitter . The results were assessed based on frequency, associated keywords and overall positive or negative sentiments. Next, aquaponics was explored in Google Trends to find the relative popularity in the last 15 years. This was coupled with Google Ad's keyword planner feature to assess the volume of searches, associated keywords, forecasts and historical metrics. Finally, ScholarPlotR software had scraped Google Scholar to find the frequency of "aquaponics" and its associated keywords in Google Scholar from 1990-present . The results were then compiled to form a comprehensive snapshot of aquaponics' online presence and overall sentiment.
Key findings indicate that there is a strong divide between commercial aquaponics producers and hobbyists. Keywords typically indicate non-technical, basic assistance with a focus on beginner instruments. There were very few references to specific producers and retailers (n=<5) and commercial aquaponics typically was associated with costs and equipment. A focus on outdoor-indoor setups was also emphasized, as well as a concern for size and scalability. The results suggested that cannabis production was a concern for hobbyists. Hydroponics was associated with aquaponics in a comparative light, although the associated keywords yielded a neutral sentiment. Although scholarly articles continue to increase , web interest peaked in 2013. The data suggests smaller growth in aquaponics than what is necessitated to continue to accelerate the industry. Continued outreach and education are necessary for creating a personalized identity for aquaponics, and not rendering it as a hydroponics alternative. The successes and failures of commercial operations yield concern for sentiments and investor confidence. Aquaponics can also benefit from increased communication between hobbyists and commercial operators, alongside a more streamlined approach to tailoring expectations of the disciplines.