Aquaponics
The Center in 2019 build an innovative aquaponics pilot plant for modeling commercial facilities involving coupling farming of aquatic animals with plant cultivation.
This technology represents a reference model for the innovation of aquaculture processes by fully embracing the principles of the circular economy and sustainability aiming to the optimization of the use of resources.
The pilot plant consists of four large tanks for a total volume of 11,000 L dedicated to the breeding and growing of freshwater fish and/or crustacean and a nursery of 10 tanks of 200 L. Two tanks of 600 L each one for plant cultivation in DWC system.
The recirculting aquaculte plant is equipped with cutting-edge technologies for the filtration and sterilization of water. Also housed in the 140-square-meter greenhouse along with the algal cultures is the DWC aquaponics plant equipped with a futuristic high-power lighting system. To date, protocols have been developed for the cultivation of leafy plant species (lettuce, escarole, basil and strawberry) coupled with the breeding of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the golden crucian carp (Carassius auratus). A PRIN project has been underway since 2022 on the plant regarding the cultivation of Cannabis with a high CBD content coupled with the breeding of Sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus).
In February 2024 an innovative tower system has been installed to perform comparative analysis in this particular vertical farming system of growing performances using water from aquaponics system respect to the common hydroponic solutions. From 2025 the farming of freshwater crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) has been started.
