Posts by Henk Stander
The organic vegetable garden in urban areas
“In our Twenty-first century of absolute convenience and consumerism, we have become disconnected from nature. We somehow believe that not only can we live separately from nature, but that we can also take as much as we want without giving anything back. That is not how a successful relationship works. We are a part of…
Read MoreWhy do I need a Greenhouse
The purpose of using greenhouses is to avoid the plant from excessive heat or cold and unwanted pests. Greenhouses are used to grow crops year-round, to increase production capacity, and to overcome seasonality in the production of certain crops. Crops grown in a greenhouse are normally healthy and of a good quality. A greenhouse creates…
Read MoreNew technology for water quality monitoring in intensive aquaculture
Aquaculture is increasingly considered as an integral component in the search for global world food security and economic development. The monitoring of farming processes can optimize the use of resources and improve its sustainability and profitability. The automation of aquaculture production systems will allow the industry to improve environmental control, reduce catastrophic losses, reduce production…
Read MoreModern Trends in Agriculture and Seafood Value Chains
An argument can be made that every effort should be made to convert low-value fish into foods for direct human consumption rather than the inefficient conversion into fishmeal and then food fish via aquaculture. This argument is based on economic and ethical (Sustainable Development) ideas. For example, the small trash fish form part of the…
Read MoreNutrient Dynamics in Aquaponic Systems
The integration of aquaculture and the hydroponic cultivation of plants has been examined repeatedly over the past five decades with a wide variety of system designs, plant and aquatic animal species, and experimental protocols. Closed, recirculating systems have generally been identified as the most appropriate aquaculture system types for integration with hydroponics because nutritional and…
Read MoreAquaculture Extension and Outreach Services in Africa
An aquaculture extension service offers technical advice on aquaculture to farmers and supplies them with the necessary inputs and services to support their agricultural production. It provides information to farmers and passes to the farmer’s new ideas developed by aquaculture research stations. The establishment and operation of effective extension services is an essential driver for…
Read MoreNew technology and innovation in aquaculture and offshore cage farming
Technology can be most broadly defined as the entities, both material and immaterial, created by the application of mental and physical effort in order to achieve some value. In this usage, technology refers to tools and machines that may be used to solve real-world problems. Technology is important because it makes you feel more secure…
Read MoreThe Fish and Seafood Value Chain
Seafood products are among the most important internationally traded food commodities. The world seafood industry plays a significant role in the economic and social well-being of many nations, as well as in the feeding of a significant part of the world’s population. Fishing and fish farming have emerged as one of the major food processing…
Read MoreWhy eat more fish and seafood?
Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans. Seafood prominently includes fish (finfish) and shellfish. Shellfish include various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Edible sea plants, such as some seaweed and microalgae, are widely eaten as seafood around the world, especially in Asia. Most of the seafood harvest today is…
Read MoreFish management in an aquaponics system
When growing fish in your aquaponics system, it is important to maintain good water quality. As an aquaponics grower you have the responsibility to keep your plants and fish healthy. Therefore, we investigate fish management in an aquaponics system. Water quality considers several parameters. Temperature and pH first come to mind, followed by dissolved gases…
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