UNH opens aquaponic greenhouse to support regional food production

DURHAM — In an effort to support sustainable agriculture, the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire has opened a new aquaponic greenhouse facility that aims to provide a model for integrating land-based aquaculture systems with hydroponic plant production that can be used locally and regionally to increase sustainable food production.

“Over half of the world’s seafood is produced from aquaculture,” said Todd Guerdat, assistant professor of agricultural engineering, who is leading the project at the Kingman Research Farm, an experiment station facility in Madbury. “Eighty percent of the seafood we eat in the United States is imported, resulting in nearly an annual $11 billion trade deficit for seafood alone. We need to take control of our food production systems by developing a sustainable, U.S.-based aquaculture industry.