Timeline
Ancient Egyptians
The first known evidence comes from wall scenes in the tomb of an Egyptian nobleman from around 2500 BCE. Fish are shown swimming in a plant-filled basin, suggesting that ancient Egyptians were familiar with raising fish alongside plants. The Nile River was also used for irrigation and waste management in ways that echo aquaponics today.
Eastern Asia, over 2,000 years ago
Rice and fish farming developed as a mutually supportive food system, with fish living among rice plants and contributing nutrients to the growing environment.
Chinampas
Chinampas, pronounced “chuh·naam·puhz”, were agricultural systems used by the Aztecs in prehispanic Mexico. Their combination of water, fertile sediment and crops remains an important example of productive wetland agriculture.
New Alchemy Institute
New Alchemy Institute was a research center that conducted pioneering research in organic agriculture, aquaculture and biological refuge design. Founded by John Todd, Nancy Jack Todd and William McLarney, it investigated human support systems for food, water and shelter and rethought how these systems could be designed.
Conclusion
The concept of farming fish and plants in a symbiotic relationship has been around for a long time. In the 1970s, modern methods and techniques were developed and the productive model of fish and plants became known as aquaponics.