Aquaponics for Sustainable Food Security: A Climate-Smart Farming Review

Abstract

Global food security is increasingly threatened by population growth, climate change, land degradation, and unsustainable farming practices, and aquaponics offers a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative by integrating aquaculture and hydroponics in a closed-loop system that enhances food production while reducing environmental harm. This review synthesizes findings from 46 relevant studies (2015-2025), examining aquaponics principles, technologies, and applications. Studies report that aquaponics improves nutrition, reduces poverty, and creates jobs, especially for youth and women in urban and rural areas. Evidence shows that aquaponics conserves up to 90% more water than traditional farming, reduces synthetic fertilizer application, and allows year-round cultivation of food crops and fish. Based on previous findings, aquaponics represents a sustainable and viable solution to food insecurity, contributing meaningfully to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals while promoting efficient resource use and environmental sustainability.