Aquaponics and Intensive Containerized Hydroponics: Regulatory and Technical Considerations

This workshop focuses regulatory considerations tied to production of fish and plants in integrated food production systems. Strategies for ensuring food safety in both coupled and decoupled systems will be addressed as well as current technical limitations. Input into model food protection plans will be solicited with an emphasis on hazard identification and preventive controls.

Producing fish and fresh product in aquaponics facilities provides an alternative for intensive and based agriculture reducing the need for artificial inputs Aquaponics is a growing area for urban gardening and intensive agricultural system in suburban and rural communities Intensive Containerized hydroponic systems are compact production systems into which can incorporate fish cultivation.

Technical and regulatory issues associated with product safety and process validation in these systems will be presented and discussed. Regulatory compliance issues under the Food Safety Modernization Act will be addressed.