Finnish Aquaponics Society / Suomen Akvaponinen Viljely ry (SAVRY)

SAVRY is a non-profit organization aiming to promote, develop & commercialize aquaponics in Finland for a more sustainable future.

We are a registered association (PRH, Finland) since September 3, 2021.

Our expertise

Together, the 7 current members cover a broad range of knowledge: Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS),

Urban gardening, Phycology, Microbiology, Biogeochemistry & International business.

AQUAPONICS – Basic set-up (image taken from https://www.freepik.com/)

The aims of SAVRY – Our motivation

The 4 CORE aspects (diagram by Tobias Lipsewers):

SAVRY aims to improve these 4 core aspects to clear the way for aquaponics in Finland & elsewhere.

Closing the cycle

Sustainability & the 0-waste approach (diagram by Tobias Lipsewers):

SAVRY is a platform to exchange ideas & nurturing our creativity to carry out innovative research projects & design new system technologies.

Local & Fresh (images by Faiqa Atique)

Increasing the availability of locally produced & fresh food to improve food safety, reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint of our consumer behavior & save the environment from further
stress.

The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, average weight = 250g) and the lettuce depicted here were grown in an aquaponics research system run by Faiqa Atique.

What is Aquaponics?

It is an alternative food production system inhabiting aquatic organisms and plants, where > 50% of the nutrients supporting optimal plant growth derive from the waste originating from feeding the aquatic organisms (Palm et al. 2018).

Above: Basic diagram showing the principle of aquaponics and some examples of products. Note, beside plants also algae can be cultivated using nutrients from the fish tanks (diagram by Tobias
Lipsewers).

Aquaponics has multiple advantages for the consumer and the environment:

  • Multiple foodstuffs can be produced with this ecosystem and potentially zero-waste approach.
  • Improved food safety: No antibiotics, pesticides, and other harmful substances are required.
  • Increased sustainability: Due to a land-based recirculating system, eutrophication and overfishing of natural waters are counteracted.
  • Increased local production: Reduced emissions (e.g., CO2) due to shorter transport chains and reduced need for imported food.
  • High quality standards: Due to the lower production size, the fish would be of better health and thus, better quality (compared to sea-based mass production).
  • Improving the local economy: Creation of job and research possibilities (in rural and urban areas).
  • Aquaponic food production is independent of weather extremes, increasing with climate change; crisis-safe because it is not affected by collapsing transport chains; *HAB-safe because of the
    strictly monitored water quality.
    *HAB stands for Harmful Algae Bloom, which is a major threat to, for example, sea-based fish farms (Díaz et al., 2019).
Above: An example of aquaponics. This is a so-called deep-water culture, where the roots of the plants grow directly into a fish tank (image taken from http://www.theaquaponicsdoctors.com/gallery.php).

Get to know the board of directors –

Our backgrounds & interests:

Currently, we are busy with re-forming the executive committee of SAVRY and this section will be updated as soon as this process is completed.

…studying diseases and parasites of different fish species for two weeks (University of Rostock, May/June 2022)

Dr. Tobias Lipsewers (chairman & contact person)
Tobias completed a PhD in Aquatic Sciences (Faculty of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki; research at the Marine Research Centre of the Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki) in 2020. These studies focused on the microbial community dynamics during the so-called spring bloom in Baltic Sea surface waters. What he learned from the aquatic foodweb and biogeochemical cycles can be applied to the field of aquaponics. After his PhD, Tobias has gained additional qualifications and expertise in the fields of fisheries biology/ecology and sustainable aquaculture (focusing on RAS and aquaponics). He initiated and co-founded the Finnish Aquaponics Society to follow a vision: Improving the sustainability of the food industry by using innovative methods. The following topics are of special interest to him: aqua- & algaeponics, aquatic ecology, circular economy, 0-waste approaches, environmental conservation as well as urban gardening.

NEWS – Current SAVRY activities:

Updated on February 23, 2023 (Tobias)

We do not offer a newsletter but we are happy to share details on our current activities on demand (see contact information below).

We are currently re-forming the executive committee & welcome people interested in joining our mission. Also new basic members are welcome. We do not charge membership fees.

WELCOME!

Would you like to collaborate with us, become a member, or just get in touch?

tobias.lipsewers@savry.org

TERVETULOA!