Researchers are looking at how aquaponic agricultural practices could help make growing produce and raising fish more sustainable. Some University of Maryland students are even tasting the results of the research in one of the school's dining halls.

Aquaponics is the practice of combining aquaculture and hydroponics, where plants grow in water without soil. The system relies on a circulating process where the waste products of fish provide crops with nutrients. Then, the crops help keep the water in tanks clean and oxygenated for the fish.

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Jose-Luis Izursa, senior environmental science and technology lecturer and adviser at the University of Maryland, said aquaponics can be a useful and sustainable tool to grow food in certain places, like urban areas.

"Because of the small footprint that requires to produce in an intensive way, if it's in a controlled environment, it can produce all year round and may help people to produce their own food if they have a space in their backyard or the basement," Izursa explained.

Aquaponics’ market share was $1.4 billion in 2025 and it is set to nearly triple by 2035. According to a 2022 United Nations Water Development report, nearly 70% of water consumed annually is for agricultural production. Aquaponics uses nearly 90% less water.

Izursa explained aquaponics is unlikely to replace large-scale or industrial agriculture for cash crops, like corn, soybeans, wheat or rice but noted some types of crops like leafy greens have great potential with aquaponics.

"It's very possible. It's a good alternative. There are commercial farms even here in Maryland, in the area, that they provide to grocery stores and they can help profit because they are dealing with herbs or leafy greens that have a good price for a producer," Izursa observed.

The aquaponics lab at the University of Maryland makes deliveries once or twice a week to a dining hall on campus, providing up to 20 pounds of basil and 300 pounds of tilapia each week in the spring semester. What’s left is donated to the food pantry on campus.