AQUAPONIA: AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF A PRODUCTIVE CONSORTIUM WITH TILAPIAS (NILO OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) AND LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA)
Aquaponic system, economic indicators, sustainability.
Aquaponics is a form of farming that fits sustainable food production standards by uniting diverse cultures and reducing nutrient waste. The research aimed to evaluate the economic viability of an aquaponic system in the production of fish intercropped with lettuce, in a rural property in the municipality of Tangará da Serra - MT, and as specific objectives to characterize the aquaponic system; identify the elements necessary for the implementation of the project; estimate costs and revenues and develop cash flows. It is a descriptive research, quantitative approach and the analysis tools were Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return on Investment (Payback) and Cost/Benefit Ratio. The Minimum Attractiveness Rate (TMA) was 5.15%. The project showed economic viability even in various pessimistic scenarios and the average time to payback the investment was approximately two and a half years.