Aquaponics for Circular Local Food Systems: A Review of Interconnections, Practices, and Transformation Pathways

As the global population continues to grow, the increasing demand for food is placing considerable pressure on vital resources such as water, land, and nutrients, emphasizing the urgent need for more efficient and resilient food production systems. In recent times, aquaponic systems have been promoted as an innovative solution for improving sustainability and circularity in local food production. Aquaponics has emerged as a promising green technology for addressing challenges related to food security and climate change. By integrating aquaculture and hydroponics within a recirculating system, it enables efficient resource use while reducing waste through circular nutrient and water flows. This study investigates the potential of aquaponics as a circular production system and its role in promoting sustainable and resilient local food systems. We examine aquaponic systems and its relevance across four different contexts—Finland, Iceland, Nigeria, and Namibia, representing diverse environmental and socio-economic conditions. The economic considerations and environmental sustainability of aquaponic systems are also considered. The findings highlight that the availability of foods in urban centres will improve with good management of aquaponic systems. Our analysis confirmed that aquaponics can contribute to resource efficiency, local food production, and sustainability, while also addressing region-specific challenges and opportunities. However, several challenges, barriers, and research gaps including policies must still be addressed for aquaponic systems to effectively contribute to alleviating food insecurity within local food systems.