Mini vegetables are all the rage! From small peppers to tiny broccoli, there is a variety of small vegetables that are becoming increasingly popular. Acheron GmbH is working on an innovative concept to convert conventional animal barns into modern food production facilities. The idea is to combine various modules for the production of meat, fish and vegetables within the barn. The aim is to recycle water, phosphorus and nitrogen, reduce emissions and increase operational productivity. The AMiGem project within this system deals specifically with aquaponics. For the first time, research is being conducted into how wastewater and solid matter from fish farming can be effectively utilised for the cultivation of mini-vegetables in order to produce high-quality fish and vegetable products.
Kai Meissner
Acheron GmbH
Tiny peppers, mini broccoli, baby lettuce, mini vegetables are trending. They are colorful, healthy, space-saving and can be used in many ways in gastronomy as well as in supermarkets. But how can they be produced sustainably, without additional land, pesticides or nutrient losses?
The AMiGem project provides a surprising answer to this: with fish water. More precisely: with wastewater from aquaculture, which would normally have to be disposed of or cleaned at great expense. Within the project, it was researched how nutrients from fish farming can be used directly for the production of mini vegetables, in a closed cycle.
Behind AMiGem is Acheron GmbH, which transforms traditional animal barns into modern food production facilities with its innovative conversion concept. The aim is a modular system in which meat, fish and plant production are combined, efficiently, space-savingly and with low emissions.
AMiGem focuses on the aquaponics module: the connection between fish farming (aquaculture) and plant cultivation (hydroponics). The project investigated how wastewater and solid residues from fish farming can be used as a nutrient source for mini vegetables, with greatly reduced additional fertilization.
• Resource efficiency: Water, phosphorus and nitrogen circulate in the system, they are not lost, but used several times.
• Independence from land: Production takes place in converted barn buildings, without additional land use.
• Emission savings: By combining fish and plants, less ammonia is released, while CO₂ emissions are reduced through shorter transport routes.
• Product suitability: The mini vegetable products from the system are of high quality, market-ready and attractive for end consumers.
AMiGem shows that modern circular economy is not only technically possible, but also economically promising. The connection between aquaculture and vegetable cultivation has the potential to transform former livestock farms into future-oriented production sites, for regional, low-emission and sustainable food production.
Project coordination: Acheron GmbH
