A FIFE-BASED start-up company is looking to revolutionise crop production in urban areas through the development of a closed-loop farming system.

The Aquaponics Garden Ltd. will join the Innovation Hub at Scotland’s Rural College where they will create their first test farm using trout waste to fertilise food and non-food crops all year-round.

Their technology will aim to reduce food miles and the impact of food production on the environment by developing new self-sustaining technology to grow crops in urban areas.

By harnessing naturally occurring bacteria, the system will convert fish waste into nutrients for the plants. This recirculating ecosystem means up to 95% less water is used and no need to use chemical fertilisers.

Dominic Gammon and Leia Kennedy are the team behind The Aquaponics Garden: “We want to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of food production, as well as improve food security by bringing sustainable farming technology that overcomes seasonality to towns and cities as well as remote locations.

“We are building a space that encourages research into sustainable aquaponics technology and we are excited to collaborate with other local start-ups and researchers on this mission,” they continued. “We are only a year into our journey, but we are excited to be working with SRUC to develop a working prototype that will make a positive impact on the Scottish economy.”