Abstract for: Heating or Transporting

Greenhouse production in Mediterranean regions is a very profitable business. Nowadays European supermarkets are full of agricultural products from this area. The newest trend is combining aquaculture and hydroponics: fish and vegetable production in one system. It is also possible to produce these products in greenhouses in Continental climate, but it needs much more energy. However, a question has arisen: which production type needs more energy: produce products in Mediterranean regions and transport it to the heart of Europe, or produce it in Europe with more energy? This paper compares these two possible ways, building up a system dynamic model for an aquaponics greenhouse production in a Continental climate.