Aquaculture Africa 2023

November 13 - 16, 2023

Lusaka, Zambia

SCHOOL FARMING: THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN THE FUTURE OF FOOD SECURITY

Margarida Saavedra 1,2,3 and João Cotter4

 

1Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, I.P (IPMA) , Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading,

Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, nº6, 1495-006 Lisboa; Portugal

2Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de

 Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

3MARE- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET- Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal

4Aquaponics Iberia
Ecocampus Pólo 2, Rua da Estr. Militar – Escola Básica de Casal de Barbas , 2565-782 Torres Vedras, Portugal

 



 The role of aquaculture in the supply of fish in the future is undeniable. Aquaponics is a sustainable method to rear fish (aquaculture) and plants (hydroponics). The water enriched with nutrients from fish and feed was tes are used as  a natural fertilizer to plants while these purify the water that goes back to fish. It is a water cycle that results from a symbiotic ecosystem and a good example of good water use and circular economy.  School farming is a project developed for  schools  that was launched in 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal, aiming to be a learning tool to stimulate children´s motivation and interest in natur e.  The project consists of building an aquaponic system which includes a fish tank , a plant growing bed  and a set of  filtration and pumping equipment in a classroom which all students can have access to . Each class will  follow the growth of different vegetables such as lettuce, basil and peri-peri , depending on the school level as different plants require different levels of care. At the same time, they will feed the fish and observe  that fish waste works as organic fertilizer for plants. At  the end of the cycle, students will measure the biomass of plants they  have grown and compare the results with other classes and schools through a school farming mobile digital network.  The implementation of these projects in developed countries has specific goals but its application in developing countries, where fo od insecurity is higher, can have a major importance as it will provide children  knowledge and  tools  that can have a  higher impact not only in their own homes, by replicating small scale farms, but to their future as it can stimulate their  entrepreneurship skill s to reduce poverty and foster food resilience.