2. Technical description of the innovation

The combination of fish farming and plant production dates back several millennia, particularly in Latin America and South Asia. It is estimated that, as early as the first millennium, the Aztec Indians living in central Mexico, near Lake Tenochtitlan, were already implementing aquaponics-like farming systems, using "chinampas", rafts made from reeds and rushes stuffed with soil and sludge to house crops. As the roots gradually grow through the raft's layers, they are eventually suspended directly in the lake water. This technique is very similar to current aquaponics on rafts.

Southern China, Indonesia and Thailand have also implemented aquaponics-like farming systems, largely motivated by the use of rice paddies in this area. People built their pig- and chicken-breeding facilities above water points used for fishing....