For sub-Saharan African countries, SPACE will once again be a unique event and a valuable driver of growth. (Image source: SPACE)

The 38th edition of SPACE will take place from 17-19 September at the Rennes Exhibition Centre in France

This year, SPACE 2024 promises to be a premier event for the agricultural sector, attracting more than 1,200 exhibitors, 100,000 visitors from 120 countries, more than 100 conferences, a platform for innovations, special events for young professionals, an Espace for the Future to explore forward-thinking tools, job dating events and top buyers from around the world.

One key theme at SPACE this year is attracting a new generation of farmers, essential to sustaining this key industry in France. SPACE 2024 aims to provide farmers with a comprehensive range of ideas and solutions to improve succession planning, farm sales and acquisitions and enhance the overall attractiveness of agricultural careers, ensuring that livestock farmers can thrive. Energy transition, food sovereignty and generational renewal will be the main themes at SPACE this week. 

For sub-Saharan African countries, SPACE will once again be a unique event and a valuable driver of growth. Delegations from Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal and others will attend to explore solutions for developing their food independence.

The Tech’Agri Challenge by INNOV’SPACE also returns for its second edition. This year’s challenge includes both a demonstrator category and an ideation category. Five solutions will be presented at the Expo in Hall 3, with teams showcasing their projects. A panel of professionals will judge the projects and select the winners of the 2024 competition. A number of animal presentations and conferences will also take place, giving a unique opportunity for the agricultural community to gain insight about important issues.

Thanks to the diverse range of suppliers showcasing equipment and services for all aspects of animal farming, SPACE is a global meeting point for livestock farmers from around the world.

To achieve economic sustainability, specific technical challenges should be addressed. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

While sustainable food production through aquaponic systems is promising, achieving economic sustainability requires the addressing of specific technical challenges, writes Saurabh Maral

Sustainable food production through aquaponic systems is promising. Consegic Business Intelligence analyses that the aquaponics market size is growing with a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period (2023-2031), and is projected to be valued at US$2,151.97mn by 2031. The following are the major areas that should be carefully examined for the proper functioning of the systems and to ensure that they are profitable:

Balancing nutrient supply and demand

One of the biggest issues in aquaponics is to make the waste of fish nutrient producers in the same way as plants need it. Fish produce waste as ammonia, which is converted to nitrites and nitrates by bacteria. Besides, plants rely on these compounds to grow, though the unbalance can lead to poor nutrient use or else toxic conditions for fish. A multi-stage biofiltration system will be a successful part of the process of the plant requirements with the desired quality of biofertiliser. Both the bacteria conversion part and the phytoplankton assimilation part from plants should be framed within the biofiltration and recycling of the waste in the closed aquatic ecosystem.

Maintaining water quality

Quality of water is very critical for the well-being of both fish and plants. However, critical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature should be constantly monitored to prevent any growth issues or mortality in the system. Water monitoring systems that are automated with sensors can provide data in real time and make adjustments as necessary. On the other hand, incorporating machine learning algorithms allows predictive maintenance to take place, thus, reducing the risk of system failure. Additionally, water testing on a regular basis, along with filter maintenance, also plays a huge role in maintaining smooth operation. 

Energy efficiency

Aquaponic systems can require a lot of power because of water pumping, aeration, and temperature control. Eroding the profit margin through high energy bills makes energy efficiency a crucial element of sustainability. Energy-conservation equipment such as variable-speed pumps, which are quiet and can be run at different speeds, and high-efficiency aerators can significantly save energy. Besides this, companies can also contribute to absorbing energy costs by employing solar panels and optimising the system design so that water traveling distance would be minimised to lower energy consumption.

Fish and plant species selection

For the aquaponic system to be successful, it is important the appropriate fish and plants are chosen as not all of them are suitable for such kind of systems. The fish that are going to be introduced into the system need to be sturdy because sometimes water conditions can be less than ideal. Also, the plants should get their nutrients from the fish waste. Tilapia, catfish, and trout are the species of fish that are widely used for their robustness, while leafy greens and herbs like lettuces and basil are plants that are particularly recommended. Small-scale trials on different species arrangements will give the combination of plants and fish that will result in the best performance of the system.

Scaling the system economically

The project of upgrading a layer that grows in the system of aquaponics to a commercial level conduces to the augmentation of the complexity in front of high upfront costs, increased production of labour, and more complex system dynamics. The goal of achieving economies of scale without a decrease in the sustainability of the system is of utmost importance. The modular system design helps scale down the size of the farm gradually while at the same time reducing the risks and the initial investment. Automation of the main processes in the life cycle such as feeding, water circulation, and environmental control will minimise labeling work. Data-based tools for analysing the performance of the systems guarantee scalability and constant yield development.

Conclusion

To attain a profitable aquaponic model, it is imperative to deal with main difficulties like nutrient balance, water quality, energy efficiency, species selection, and system scalability. By employing innovative biofiltration systems, automation technologies, power-efficient building components, and data-centric decision support systems, managers will be able to get the most out of the system at the same time as reducing operating expenditures. By means of such approaches, aquaponics promises to be a sustainable food production method that is environmentally friendly and economically sound for the long term.

Farmer Safiyo Mohamud Said picks maize on her Puntland farm. (Image source: WFP)

Helping to power the change – and the resilience of hundreds of smallholder farmers like Warsame – is a World Food Programme (WFP)-supported project aimed at boosting agriculture and incomes

Known as Kobciye, the initiative provides 3,000 farmers in three Somali states – Puntland, Jubaland, Galmudug – equipment such as tractors, solar-powered water pump systems and fencing. In partnership with the Government of Somalia, it gives them the tools to better cope with climate challenges, opens up new livelihood opportunities such as food processing and improves their access to markets.

Agriculture is gaining ground even in the driest parts of the country – like semi-arid Puntland, which faces other nature-based threats, from locust infestations to flash floods. In the central Somali region of Galmudug, with the same dry conditions as Puntland, the Kobciye project gives communities access to water through a broad approach that includes drip irrigation and boreholes, and factors in land use, vegetation and other environmental concerns.

“Through the project, we are not just providing tools and training – we are empowering communities to believe in the potential of their land and their ability to produce food sustainably,” said WFP country director, El-Khidir Daloum. “This shift in mindsets is key to securing a food-secure future for Somalia.”

The conference expects to attract 150 participants of which 125 will be local and 25 foreign. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Nawa Mutumweno provides insights into the Zambia National Organic Conference (ZNOC) scheduled for the In-Service Training Trust in Lusaka this October

Organised by the Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ) along with other actors in organic agriculture, ZNOC will be held from 1-3 October under the theme ‘Actualising resilient food systems and the right to food through organic farming.’  

This is premised on the need to generate widespread interest in organic food systems and to enhance practical stakeholder collaborations for production, marketing and enhancement of just food systems. Further, it will raise the visibility of smallholder organic farmers, giving them an opportunity to interact with suppliers, buyers, processors, financiers, researchers, and policy makers, thus in the process influencing policy reform and forging partnerships for production, financing, full value chain supply, value addition and marketing.

The conference expects to attract 150 participants of which 125 will be local and 25 foreign. Anchored on readily available local resources, indigenous knowledge and environmentally friendly and socially-acceptable scientifically proven technologies, organic farming is the key to increased output of a diverse range of quality products, assuring continuous availability of food and balanced nutrition. 

Positive stakeholder involvement, especially by finance institutions and various government initiatives are necessary for financing smallholder farmers through loans, grants and donations to enable full supply chain development from farm to fork in which farmer-managed organisations have real stakes.

The primary objective of the Conference is to identify and document salient features for use in designing a commercial organic programme focused on production of food and medicinal plants for local and external markets. Specific objectives include:

- to support establishment of a commercial organic programme for joint ventures in production, value addition and marketing referenced on strengthened farmer organisations in light of changing climate documented and profiled attributes of sustainable partnerships.

- to showcase available organic products, inputs and support technologies for ecological organic agriculture in Zambia.

- to identify, document and strategise mechanisms for awareness and dissemination of ecological organic agriculture benefits and facts to stakeholders and communities in Zambia.

- to identify and document Zambian signature organic value chains encompassing agriculture and non-timber forest products for enhancing food security, nutrition and income needs.

- to identify, document and profile the attributes of sustainable partnerships and joint ventures for production, value addition and marketing of organic products with reference to strengthened farmer organisation in light of changing climate. 

It needs to be emphasised that an ever increasing, usually insatiable demand for organic products underpins the economic vibrancy of organic farming with potential to increase income earnings through low-cost inputs and price premiums on certified organic products. Needless to say, its’ scaling up and out would migrate Zambian smallholder farmers to profitable commercial farming. Many smallholder farmers are structurally excluded from profitable commercial engagements mainly on account of being poorly resourced.

OPPAZ, as Official Host, will also use the event as a launch platform for the Sixth African Organic Conference (6AOC) to be held in Lusaka in 2026. Zambia, through OPPAZ, has been authorised to host this continental organic showpiece on behalf of the African Organic Network (AfroNet) and the African Union (AU) led coalition on ecological organic agriculture actors. 

The convocation shall exchange knowledge, information, practices and experiences through paper presentations, exhibitions and organic farm field visits.