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Sounds fishy? - agricultural innovation improves nutrition – 8 Jun 2011

A Tearfund-supported research project in Israel and Palestine has developed an affordable and sustainable aquaponics system to help poor families in developing countries produce higher fruit and vegetable yields.

Tim Evans, Kyle Petrie and Chris Somerville (pictured) recently trialed their Aquaponics system in Israel to see if it could be used in a refugee camp setting with incredible results. The project was supported by Tearfund, Leprosy Mission and Church of the Nazarene in Jerusalem.

What is Aquaponics?

Take some fish, a few pipes and lots of water and the result is incredible vegetables. Aquaponics is a system where plants are grown in a soil-less environment and they are fertilised as the plants soak up nutrients from water enriched by fish waste. It is a closed system which means it uses very little water which is important in arid climates.

Why is Aquaponics better than traditional methods?

For people living in refugee camps there is little space and even less water. Growing fresh fruit and vegetables can be very difficult and as a result malnutrition rates are high. The research showed that aquaponically grown plants can grow up to five times faster than in local soils and makes planting and harvesting easier. A manual has been developed for local community groups, giving them a step by-step guide on how to build and maintain a household aquaponic system. It is hoped that this simple technology will help poor households in developing countries to improve their nutrition and generate income from selling surplus fruit and vegetables.

What’s next?

There has been enormous interest from the UN, the Irish Ambassador and other organisations in Israel/ Palestine. They want to roll out this new technology in parts of the West Bank and get more poor families using it. Tim Evans will stay in Jerusalem as pastor of a local church and continue to run this project also. Meanwhile Chris Somerville has also been asked to train farmers in Jordan on how to set it up for themselves. It’s a really simple idea which is having enormous impact.

“It has been an interesting process to take a project like this from a garden in south Dublin all the way to the rooftop of a church in the heart of Jerusalem,” said Kyle. “It has come with its challenges and also its rewards. It’s been encouraging to meet local people here who are so enthusiastic about what we’re doing.”

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