DOI
10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.037

Summary
This paper researches the field of aquaponics and its respective technological innovation systems in a European context with attention given to a German case study as well as further afield in the global context. The paper details the current state of development and identifies the factors that encourage and discourage its future.

The methods for this research include an explorative literature review and interviews with field experts. The study starts out with general background literature on the development and challenges of aquaponics. General highlighted strategies to develop sustainable food systems include: (1) change the production process of food, (2) change food production technologies and (3) ideally pair these strategies with changes in consumer behaviour.

König et al. state that current aquaponics applications focuses on aquaculture, hydroponics, water quality, microbiology and engineering but go on to say that policy makers and actors involved in the technology are met with issues in finding practical guidelines for policy and business development. The historical background is detailed in section 1.2. Here, König et al. brings the reader’s attention to the infancy of the emerging technology.




König et al. propose a framework for aquaponics analysis as an emerging technological innovation system (TIS) based off Bergek et al. (commonly used throughout TIS papers).




Main findings – stakeholders have varying perceptions about the future development path, further complex systems management knowledge is required and it is unclear how to design institutional conditions to develop sustainable results.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
This study is concerned with the emerging practice and technology of aquaponics and its respective TIS. As a result, it’s relevance to complex systems knowledge lies with energy systems and sustainability. Since aquaponics is still in its infancy, this study fits a niche of complex systems knowledge from the off. The Bergek et al. TIS functions are described with their relevance to aquaponics in sections 4.1 – 4.7. Here, a short discussion occurs on each of the seven TIS functions and may be useful point of reference for the teaching of aquaponics and its complex system analysis. Figures 1 & 2 also contribute to the understanding of this topic and could be utilised in course material relevant to the topic.

‘Section 3.3.1 Existing legal framework for aquaponics operations’ outlines the process by which König et al. analysed the legal and political barriers to the construction and operation of aquaponic farms, the commercialisation of products and the acquisition of agricultural subsidies from the EU, with a focus on Germany. This aspect of the research is a common requirement for energy systems research papers and may act as valuable replicable section to new studies.

A notable statement of the study: ‘Innovation research scholars have argued that innovation arises not only within the context of market failures and R&D input and output indicators, but also as a result of a broader systemic background of the environment, preconditions and processes of innovation development (Alkemade at al. 2007)’

Point of Strength
Aquaponics is a promising emerging technological solution to a number of sustainability issues – it is still in its infancy and requires further research similar to this for the procurement of better knowledge. König et al. state that current aquaponics applications focuses on aquaculture, hydroponics, water quality, microbiology and engineering but go on to say that policy makers and actors involved in the technology are met with issues in finding practical guidelines for policy and business development. Here lies a high quality study that offers a roadmap for further study and highlights the areas where this may be possible/required.

König et al. utilise high quality visual aids as seen in figures 1 & 2. This fits a call for more visual aids from other researchers in the field of TIS’s and would contribute to the teaching of complex systems.