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Sacramento State Graduate's Aquaponics Project As Water-Efficient Farming Alternative In Drought

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A Sacramento State graduate is spreading a message of sustainability that should hit home from drought-stricken California to third-world countries.

Nelson Mmbando proudly shows off his biggest catfish. It's a key component in his aquaponics farm.

Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture—raising fish—and hydroponics—growing plants in water without soil.

"So you don't have to buy fertilizers in doing aquaponics as compared to traditional farming," he said.

Fish live in pools below floating beds of vegetables and herbs. The wastewater from the fish is pumped up to the plants, which eat it up and filter the water so it can be reused.

Mmbando focused his senior thesis at Sacramento State on aquaponics. He touts its water-efficiency and fast-growing produce as a more sustainable farming model, especially in a thirsty state like California.

"We need to wake up and see where our investment goes," he said. "We need to preserve the water we have. Aquaponics gives room for that."

Mmbando's project began with a model made from $120 in materials, but he and a couple of friends have progressed to more complicated structures.

They have now formed a company called Unitan Aquafarms with hopes of bringing the knowledge to the people Tanzania, Mmbando's home country.

"They say agriculture is the backbone for developing countries," he said. "If you can perfect the means for food production in developing countries, you eliminate food scarcity and poverty in the best way possible."

He plans to return to Tanzania to teach aquaponics next year, but in 2016 he hopes to return to Sacramento State to earn his Master's degree in environmental engineering.

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