A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Commercialized Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics for Vegetable Production in New Jersey

Kean University, Union NJ

Investigators

Abstract

1946746 (Mu). This project will conduct a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify resource use and environmental and human health impacts of vegetable production with two water-based farming techniques in five commercialized facilities (three for hydroponics and two for aquaponics) built in densely populated areas in New Jersey. The research team will undertake both on-site data collection and software modeling in conducting LCA. The scope for analysis will cover all the impacts in facility establishment, vegetable production, and upstream supply chains. The project is expected to improve understanding of hydroponics and aquaponics, and provide recommendations to improve technologies and guidance to select among various farming techniques. The study has the potential to lead to greater application of water-based farming in urban areas and add another source of food supply to city dwellers that have limited access to fresh and nutritious foods. Increased applications could help reduce hunger and increase food diversity, independence, and resiliency of cities. In addition, the project will extend research on sustainable farming and provide a learning practicum for students. The project targets to: 1) Establish an inventory of resources used, vegetables produced, and emissions from the facilities; 2) Analyze environmental and human health impacts of various vegetables produced and identify key factors that cause resource use and impacts; and, 3) Compare the LCA results and figure out how resource use and impacts are related to facility design, scale, and type of vegetable growing. Finally, the study will discuss how to improve hydroponic design and operation to reduce resource consumption and impacts, and create a general guide for cities, communities, and families to select water-based farming techniques according to varied locations, land and resource availability. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.