Fish and plant research in Spain-Greece for future food security

The field of aquaponics has recently yielded a new plant-fish combination. For the first time, a salinity-tolerant plant commonly known as glasswort, or sea asparagus, has been grown together with flathead gray mullet (Mugil cephalus), an important food fish species found in coastal waters worldwide. The experiment was carried out by the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) at its center in Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain, as part of the EU-funded NewTechAqua project. The system was initially tested with lettuce instead of Salicornia, as the glasswort is also known. "In January 2021, in less than three months, we harvested 90 kg of lettuce. After ensuring the system's smooth operation, in the second phase, we have already grown Salicornia, of which we ...