Advances in urban horticulture by means of family-sized aquaponic systems: technical and social aspects

Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, where fish effluents are used as nutritive solution by plants. At the University of Seville, different works have been developed over the last 12 years in order to improve the designs proposed by FAO, determine the safety of the food produced, study the productivity and profitability under Mediterranean climate, as well as the suppressiveness against some water-borne plant diseases. However, one of the most interesting findings that have stood out in the results are those related to social issues. The city of Seville has one of the neighbourhoods with the worst rates of social exclusion in Europe: El Poligono Sur, where different knowledge transfer activities have been developed. The objective of this work is to describe the aquaponic technology transfer activities to this disadvantaged neighbourhood and the social advances that were achieved during this period of collaboration, introducing healthy diet drivers and empowering adults in the neighbourhood. To achieve this goal, students participated in data collection operations (water quality, plant and fish production, etc.) and adults were teachers in a course. At the high school Joaquin Romero Murube, participating students received an extra supply of fresh vegetables while they practiced different curricular subjects in their aquaponic facilities, improving the nutritional quality of the students' diet, reducing absenteeism and promoting their learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM subjects). Therefore, aquaponics has been a valuable tool to improve the nutritional quality of the students' diet, motivating their participation in academic activities and empowering the adults who taught the training courses in the University of Seville.