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Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa
Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613892568416256 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Du Toit, Francois |
| author2 | De Lange, Willem |
| author_browse | De Lange, Willem Du Toit, Francois |
| author_facet | De Lange, Willem Du Toit, Francois |
| author_sort | Du Toit, Francois |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134613 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:21.794Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134613 Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa Du Toit, Francois De Lange, Willem Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics. Aquaponics -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Fish culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Agriculture -- Finance -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Du Toit, F. 2025. Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/5a9c7508-db9f-4cad-bd11-40d4d02f4aaf ENGLISH SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to investigate the profitability of aquaponics in South Africa, to determine the primary profitability drivers of aquaponics, and to identify methods to enhance profitability of aquaponics in the country. Relevant information, regarding the aquaponics industry in South Africa was gathered from global and local literature, as well as from various industry players and participants to provide a general understanding on the state of profitability of aquaponics in South Africa. Information from industry experts and the Department of Forestries, Fisheries and the Environment was used to develop a 10-year profitability model for a commercial aquaponics system producing tilapia and lettuce in South Africa. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the primary drivers of profitability for aquaponics in South Africa. Aquaponics offers significant potential globally for profitable and sustainable production of high value fish and vegetables in an eco-friendly manner. Despite being developed over many years in South Africa, it remains an emerging production method in the country and is practiced primarily by hobbyists rather than commercial entities. The key profitability drivers of aquaponics in South Africa include the market price of the vegetable component, cost of plant seedlings, labour costs, energy costs, the cost of chemicals and fertilizers and the survivability rate of the fish. The profitability of aquaponics in South Africa is very sensitive to changes in income, making it a high-risk investment as small changes in income can lead to detrimental effects in profitability. It was concluded that in order to increase profitability of aquaponics in South Africa, optimization of both the fish and the vegetable markets are required. Consideration should be given to the location of the project, layout as well as an appropriate operating and business model, while containing investment capital and operating costs. A long-term mindset is required, as these systems can take several years to become profitable. Access to knowledge, skills and experience in fish production, vegetable production, as well as the workings of the integrated aquaponics system is of paramount importance to optimise operations and to reduce the risk of failure. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die winsgewendheid van akwaponika in Suid-Afrika te ondersoek, om die primere winsgewendheidsdrywers van akwaponika te bepaal, en om metodes te identifiseer om winsgewendheid van akwaponika in die land te verbeter. Relevante inligting rakende die akwaponika-bedryf in Suid-Afrika is versamel uit globale en plaaslike literatuur, sowel as van verskeie rolspelers en deelnemers in die bedryf om 'n algemene begrip te gee van die stand van winsgewendheid van akwaponika in Suid-Afrika. Inligting van kundiges in die bedryf en die Departement van Bosbou, Visserye en die Omgewing is gebruik om 'n 10-jaar-winsgewendheidsmodel te ontwikkel vir 'n kommersiele akwaponika-stelsel wat tilapia en blaarslaai in Suid-Afrika produseer. 'n Sensitiwiteitsanalise is gedoen om die primere drywers van winsgewendheid vir akwaponika in Suid-Afrika te identifiseer. Akwaponika bied wereldwyd aansienlike potensiaal vir winsgewende en volhoubare produksie van hoewaarde vis en groente op 'n eko-vriendelike wyse. Ten spyte daarvan dat dit oor baie jare in Suid-Afrika ontwikkel is, bly dit 'n opkomende produksiemetode in die land en word dit hoofsaaklik deur stokperdjies eerder as kommersiele entiteite beoefen. Die belangrikste winsgewendheidsdrywers van akwaponika in Suid-Afrika sluit in die markprys van die groentekomponent, koste van plantsaailinge, arbeidskoste, energiekoste, die koste van chemikaliee en kunsmis en die oorlewingsyfer van die vis. Die winsgewendheid van akwaponika in Suid-Afrika is baie sensitief vir veranderinge in inkomste, wat dit 'n hoerisikobelegging maak aangesien klein veranderinge in inkomste nadelige uitwerking op winsgewendheid kan he. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat om winsgewendheid van akwaponika in Suid-Afrika te verhoog, optimalisering van beide die vis- en die groentemarkte nodig is. Oorweging moet gegee word aan die ligging van die projek, uitleg sowel as 'n toepaslike bedryfs- en sakemodel, terwyl beleggingskapitaal en bedryfskoste bevat. 'n Langtermyn-ingesteldheid word vereis, aangesien hierdie stelsels 'n paar jaar kan neem om winsgewend te word. Toegang tot kennis, vaardighede en ervaring in visproduksie, groenteproduksie, sowel as die werking van die geintegreerde akwaponika-stelsel is van kardinale belang om bedrywighede te optimaliseer en die risiko van mislukking te verminder. Masters 2025-12-18T12:40:01Z 2025-12-18T12:40:01Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134613 en Stellenbosch University iv, 87 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Aquaponics -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Fish culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Agriculture -- Finance -- South Africa UCTD Du Toit, Francois Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa |
| title | Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa |
| title_full | Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa |
| title_short | Profitability of aquaponics in South Africa |
| title_sort | profitability of aquaponics in south africa |
| topic | Aquaponics -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Fish culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Agriculture -- Finance -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134613 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dutoitfrancois profitabilityofaquaponicsinsouthafrica |