Step by step, we are moving towards a greener and more efficient tomorrows

Research and development of Future Farming (R&D) has entered the first quarter of 2024 with full deployment. We continue to bring new insights and opportunities from research projects in the field of modern agriculture – advanced aquaponics, hydroponics and RAS. This article will give you a glimpse of the activities our R&D department will be engaged in early this year.

Growing strawberries indoors or When nature moves inside

Our laboratories have become a growing room for strawberries, where we are testing the possibility of growing them. Indoor strawberry cultivation can be a key element in resilience to climate change and improving overall self-sufficiency. We have already shared some of our findings in a previous article and will share more once we have completed our tests. In addition, the research department will work with technologists to design a prototype for vertical strawberry cultivation.

Mealworms and microalgae. A new look at feeding

Our team has tested feeding a microalgae containing a high amount of unsaturated fatty acids. These microscopic organisms are a potential way to increase the unsaturated fatty acid content of fish meat as well. We will bring you more information in a future article.

African catfish – product expiry extension

For our wholesale partner, analyses were performed to determine the best before date for the product African catfish – chilled, loose on flake ice. These analyses are a necessary legislative prerequisite to ensure a safe (non-toxic) and quality product.

Project with the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Connecting science and practice

We are preparing for another project with the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, where we will translate the know-how of scientific institutions into practical use on our aquaponic farm in Brno – Heršpice. This cooperation will enable us to bring even more innovative and sustainable approaches to our farming practices. The topic of the planned cooperation is a preventive monitoring system that can detect the occurrence of pests and diseases in our fish farming facilities in good time.

Water management and laboratory analysis. A step towards a healthy future 

R&D in cooperation with the project coordinator and a fish farming specialist, has prepared a dossier for the Austrian water management company GWT Group, with whom we will consult on their proposed solution. The aim is to be able to return all the wastewater back into the system and to introduce technology for the recovery of fish bio-waste – coarse sludge (i.e. nutrient concentrate for plants) on our farms. Our laboratories are working on precision analyses that will help optimize water use and thus increase the efficiency of our production farms.

Continuous testing of operating waters. Maintaining cleanliness and efficiency

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we continuously test the process water systems on our farms. This ensures, for example, that fish metabolites are kept within the limit values (e.g. ammonia or nitrite have set maximum values in fish farming) and that the optimal composition of the nutrient solution is set for the nutrition of the plants being grown. The safety and cleanliness of water sources are a priority for us, and we are constantly striving to improve our practices.

Watch Future Farming’s continued success in modern agriculture, where science and practice join forces for a greener, more efficient tomorrow that is within reach.