Integrated Microalgal–Aquaponic Systems for Enhanced Water Treatment and Food Security: A Critical Review of Recent Advances in Process Integration and Resource Recovery

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a comprehensive synthesis of IAMS performance and challenges, useful for researchers in sustainable agriculture and water treatment.

🏢実務担当者:Offers insights into potential resource recovery and water savings, but commercial viability remains uncertain for corporate adoption.

🏛政策担当者:Highlights regulatory gaps and the need for policy support to scale IAMS, relevant for sustainable agriculture and water policy.

The convergence of food insecurity, water scarcity, and environmental degradation has intensified the global search for sustainable agricultural models. Integrated Microalgal–Aquaponic Systems (IAMS) have emerged as a novel multi-trophic platform that unites aquaculture, hydroponics, and microalgal cultivation into a closed-loop framework for resource-efficient food production and water recovery. This critical review synthesizes empirical findings and engineering advancements published between 2008 and 2024, evaluating IAMS performance relative to traditional agriculture and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Reported under controlled laboratory and pilot-scale conditions, IAMS have achieved nitrogen and phosphorus recovery efficiencies exceeding 95% while potentially reducing water consumption by up to 90% compared to conventional farming. The integration of microalgal photobioreactors enhances nutrient retention, may contribute to internal carbon capture, and enables the generation of diversified co-products, including biofertilizers and protein-rich aquafeeds. Nevertheless, significant barriers to commercial scalability persist, including the biological complexity of maintaining multi-trophic synchrony, high initial capital expenditure (CAPEX), and regulatory ambiguity regarding the safety of waste-derived algal biomass. Technical challenges such as photobioreactor upscaling, biofouling control, and energy optimization are critically discussed. Finally, the review evaluates the alignment of IAMS with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2, 6, and 13, and outlines future research priorities in techno-economic modeling, automation, and policy development to facilitate the transition of IAMS from pilot-scale innovations to viable industrial solutions.

• semanticscholar https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9410/6/1/14/pdffirst seen 2026-05-05 23:54:36 · last seen 2026-08-01 06:23:28