Again we applied to participate in a research project and again it came to a realization. We are very pleased that we are part of this ambitious team and that we are allowed to work on these highly interesting issues.
Not just a modern sustainable city farm
The name CLOSE THE LOOP - new urban food is not just about planning a modern aquaponics city farm. The research project deals holistically with production cycles, logistics and resource efficiency. The research and planning horizon thus extends far beyond a single system to which many other partners in the network, who can be suppliers, buyers or perform another function in a large cycle.
However, the project is embedded as a sub-project in the much larger project structure of the research project: "Urban production in the Bergisch city triangle - competitiveness, innovation and district development". It is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This also connects to the many other sub-projects.
Research project on Circular City and New Urban Food
All material flows are consistently thought through in this project. The course of these material flows is analyzed from the ground up and then recombined so that the cycles can be closed. The name is not only the program, but it is actually about cycles as well as in aquaponics, only that both the fish feed is taken into account here, but also the secondary and tertiary raw materials that arise from the system. Up to the energetic supply, everything is thought of in cycles and that is automatically compatible with aquaponics.
No beginning, no end and no waste - the blueprint
The circular city uses all nutrients again. But it is sustainable on three levels: ecological, social and economic. The material flows are calculated in advance using simulations. In the course of the research project, a knowledge database will be set up for all areas, with which the other partners in the project can also work. Such an inventory of the material flows is not only new, it also helps enormously with a more intelligent resource management, with recycling, with circular economy, which is the goal for all of us in the project again and again. Rethinking the world without rubbish is urgently needed, but luckily it has long been possible. And instead of rocket technology, all you need is a really good concept.
Research project of great benefit to us
In our previous work we have already learned how well aquaponics fits in with other sustainable processes in the circular economy. The fact that we are now also intensively involved in the production of insects and zooplankton and the further use of secondary and tertiary raw materials as part of the project brings us very far forward in terms of the planning of integrated systems that go beyond aquaponics.
Webpage of research project CLOSE THE LOOP: https://arrenberg.app/arrenberg-farm/
