Aquaponics, a sustainable food production technology combining aquaculture and horticulture, is increasingly used to address food insecurity in urban and rural areas. This project aims to assess the effectiveness of commercially available water quality sensors in monitoring aquaponic systems to reduce production costs. By installing a demonstration aquaponics system at Florida A&M University, the project will collect and compare data from traditional handheld test kits and advanced sensors over a nine-month production cycle. The project will provide training to students, small farmers, and other stakeholders, enhancing their ability to optimize production through virtual monitoring. The anticipated outcomes include reduced labor and operating costs, increased production and profitability, and the development of a skilled workforce to expand the aquaponics industry.
• Laura Tiu, University of Florida, IFAS – Florida Sea Grant
• Terrius Bruce, Florida A&M University, College of Agriculture and Food Science
• Gilbert Queeley, Florida A&M University, College of Agriculture and Food Science
• Alejandro Bolques, Florida A&M University, College of Agriculture and Food Science
• Richard Gragg, Florida A&M University, School of the Environment
• Hsuan Huang, School of Journalism and Graphic Communication
• Miranda Manning, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
• Linda Sapp, Florida A&M University, College of Agriculture and Food Science
