Korean Researchers Advance Commercialization of Marine Aquaponics Technology

Ten organizations, including Seoul National University, AQUON, and NEB, participate in a KRW 12.9 billion government-funded project over five years

June 12, 2026 | By Jong-Min Lee

Speakers and panelists of the Blue Aquaponics Session at WFT26 ConfEx gather for a group photo following the event held on June 11 at KINTEX, Korea.

From left: Professor Sun-Gi Kim (Chung-Ang University), Young-Seok Han (Research Director, NEB), Professor Jong-Sung Khim (Seoul National University), Seung-Oh Choo (Team Leader, AQUON), Dr. Chang-Geun Lee (Research Professor, Seoul National University), and Yong-Hwan Lee (Patent Attorney, EO Patent & Law Firm).

Source: HYUNDAI MARINE News (Korea)

Korean Researchers Showcase Commercialization Strategy for Marine Aquaponics at WFT26 ConfEx

At the "World FoodTech ConfEx 2026 (WFT26 ConfEx)," held on June 11 at KINTEX Exhibition Center II, Korean researchers hosted a special session on Blue Aquaponics, unveiling the latest technological developments and commercialization strategies for marine aquaponics.

Marine aquaponics, an environmentally friendly circular production system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics, is a large-scale R&D initiative funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries with an investment of KRW 12.9 billion (approximately USD 9.5 million) over five years. The project involves ten participating organizations, including Seoul National University, AQUON Co., Ltd., and NEB Co., Ltd.

The session, chaired by Professor Jong Seong Khim of Seoul National University, focused on the project's progress and pathways toward commercialization.

Development of Energy-Efficient Marine Aquaculture Systems

The session opened with a presentation by Young-Seok Han, Director of Research at NEB, titled "Development of Energy-Efficient Land-Based Aquaculture Systems Based on Marine Aquaponics."

Han explained that seawater-based aquaponic systems require entirely new designs for species combinations, filtration methods, and waste management due to their high salinity and unique water quality characteristics.

He outlined five major project objectives:

• Development of marine aquaponics-compatible fish and plant co-cultivation technologies (five fish species and seven plant species selected as candidates)
• Metagenomics-based microbial analysis and ecosystem balancing technologies
• Demonstration models for both building-integrated and aquaculture-farm-based systems
• AI- and database-driven smart operation technologies
• Living-lab validation and commercialization strategies

Optimizing Marine Aquaponics Environments

Next, Dr. Chang-Geun Lee, Research Professor at Seoul National University, presented on "Development of Optimal Environmental Control and Operational Technologies for Marine Aquaponics."

Lee noted that most aquaponics research in Korea has focused on freshwater species, while studies involving seawater and marine plants remain limited. He emphasized existing technological gaps in energy recycling and seawater-specific system design.

"Seawater environments require longer stabilization periods because nitrification occurs more slowly, and additional challenges such as scaling and biofilm management must also be addressed," Lee explained.

To overcome these challenges, the research team is developing a three-stage integrated filtration process combining physical, biological, and chemical treatment methods, along with real-time sensor-based monitoring systems.

"We are also building an AI platform that integrates and standardizes data generated by all ten participating organizations to identify optimal operating conditions," he added. Full-scale operation of both building-type and aquaculture-farm-type living labs is scheduled to begin this summer.

From Science to Business: AQUON's Commercialization Journey

The final presentation was delivered by Seung-Oh Choo, Team Leader at AQUON, under the title "Aquaponics: From Science to Business."

Choo shared commercialization outcomes derived from the company's aquaponics technologies. According to AQUON's research, active compounds in ginseng sprouts grown under aquaponic conditions increased by up to tenfold, while lactucin, a natural sleep-promoting compound found in the lettuce cultivar Heukharang, was measured at 35 times higher than in conventional lettuce.

Based on these findings, AQUON—a startup founded within Seoul National University—has launched a series of four ginseng sprout tea products. The company is also pursuing Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects in Mongolia using containerized aquaponics systems powered by solar and geothermal energy.

Experts Discuss Commercialization and Intellectual Property Strategies

Following the presentations, a panel discussion was held to explore future directions for marine aquaponics commercialization and technology development.

Yong-Hwan Lee, Patent Attorney at EO Patent & Law Firm, emphasized the importance of securing intellectual property rights at an early stage. He noted that marine aquaponics remains an emerging field with significant first-mover advantages.

"Marine aquaponics is still in its early stages of development, creating valuable opportunities for technological leadership," Lee said. He recommended a dual intellectual property strategy: patenting technologies that can be readily identified through external observation while protecting difficult-to-reverse-engineer innovations, such as microbial formulations and cultivation know-how, as trade secrets.

Professor Sun-Gi Kim of Chung-Ang University highlighted the potential role of beneficial microorganisms in improving system performance. Citing numerous published studies, he explained that microbial inoculation can increase operational efficiency several-fold and suggested the application of osmotolerant nitrifying microorganisms to enhance seawater-based aquaponics systems.

Concluding the session, Professor Jong Seong Khim of Seoul National University, who chaired the discussion, emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.

"Ultimately, our goal is to understand the interactions and mechanisms linking animals, plants, and microorganisms within aquaponics systems," Kim stated. "Achieving this will require close collaboration among fisheries engineering, crop science, and microbial engineering."

The discussion underscored the importance of combining scientific research, intellectual property strategy, and industrial collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of marine aquaponics technologies.

Source: HHYUNDAI MARINE News (Korea)