Short answer

When designing aquaculture systems, consider the entire life cycle from material sourcing and construction to operational inputs and waste management to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability.

Field
Sustainability
Source
Fishes (2026)
Method
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC)
Evidence
Strong effect

Greenhouse aquaculture for shrimp offers a more economically viable and environmentally sound alternative to traditional intensive farming methods. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2026 study published in Fishes. Using Life cycle assessment (lca) and life cycle costing (lcc), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing aquaculture systems, consider the entire life cycle from material sourcing and construction to operational inputs and waste management to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability.

Study
SustainabilityNew This WeekStrong effect

Greenhouse Shrimp Farming: A Sustainable Model with Lower Environmental Impact and Higher Profitability

Greenhouse aquaculture for shrimp offers a more economically viable and environmentally sound alternative to traditional intensive farming methods.

Fishes · 2026

01

Key Findings

  • 01Greenhouse shrimp farming achieved a life cycle cost of 3.56 USD kg⁻¹ shrimp.
  • 02Construction costs were dominated by steel pipes and film materials.
  • 03Feed and land rent were the primary expenses during the farming phase.
  • 04The greenhouse model yielded a net profit of USD 5.31 per m² per cycle and a cost-profit ratio of 60.47%, significantly outperforming the Indoor Super-Intensive Culture (ISIC) model.
  • 05Key environmental impacts per kilogram of shrimp produced included a global warming potential (GWP) of 3.279 kg CO₂ eq, acidification potential (AP) of 0.369 kg SO₂ eq, and eutrophication potential (EP) of 0.212 kg PO₄ eq.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When designing aquaculture systems, consider the entire life cycle from material sourcing and construction to operational inputs and waste management to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability.

How to apply

Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) for any new aquaculture system design to identify environmental hotspots and cost drivers, guiding material selection and operational strategies.

Project actions

  • 01When researching materials for your design, look for data on their embodied energy and environmental impact.
  • 02Consider the entire lifespan of your product, including disposal or recycling, when assessing its sustainability.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo systematically evaluate the economic and environmental performance of greenhouse shrimp farming compared to other intensive aquaculture models.
MethodLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC)
ProcedureData on construction and farming processes were collected through field surveys and enterprise production records. LCC was used to determine costs per kilogram of shrimp and identify major expense categories. LCA was employed to quantify environmental impacts such as global warming potential, acidification potential, and eutrophication potential across different life cycle stages.
ContextAquaculture, specifically greenhouse shrimp farming.

Variables

IVAquaculture system type (Greenhouse vs. Indoor Super-Intensive Culture)
DVLife Cycle Cost (USD kg⁻¹ shrimp), Net Profit (USD m⁻² per cycle), Cost-Profit Ratio (%), Global Warming Potential (kg CO₂ eq kg⁻¹ shrimp), Acidification Potential (kg SO₂ eq kg⁻¹ shrimp), Eutrophication Potential (kg PO₄ eq kg⁻¹ shrimp).
CVShrimp species (Litopenaeus vannamei), farming processes, data collection methods.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Comprehensive analysis using both economic and environmental metrics.
  • +Comparison with an established alternative model (ISIC) provides context.

Limitations

It can be difficult to get accurate data for every stage of a product's life cycle, and assumptions often need to be made.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliability is supported by the use of field surveys and enterprise production records. Validity is enhanced by comparing the greenhouse model against a recognized alternative (ISIC). However, the specific context of the study might limit external validity.

Think critically

How might the choice of energy source for heating and lighting in the greenhouse impact its overall environmental sustainability and economic viability?

05

Design Principles

"Holistic Life Cycle Design: Evaluate and optimize designs based on their complete environmental and economic impact from cradle to grave."

Understanding the full life cycle costs and environmental impacts of aquaculture systems is crucial for developing sustainable food production practices. This research provides a data-driven comparison, highlighting opportunities for design interventions that can further optimize resource use and minimize ecological footprints.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Farming shrimp in a greenhouse is better for the planet and your wallet than farming them indoors in super-intensive systems. The biggest costs and environmental problems come from building the greenhouse (especially the metal parts) and the feed you use.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use the principles of LCA and LCC to justify material choices and design decisions in your design project, demonstrating a consideration for environmental and economic factors.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the importance of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) approach in evaluating design solutions. By analyzing the environmental and economic impacts from material sourcing through to end-of-life, it is possible to identify more sustainable and cost-effective designs, such as the greenhouse shrimp farming model which outperformed intensive indoor systems due to its improved profitability and reduced environmental footprint, particularly in its construction and operational phases.

09

Source

Fishes

Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing of a Greenhouse Culture Model for <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>

journal · 2026

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about greenhouse shrimp farming: a sustainable model with lower environmental impact and higher profitability?
When designing aquaculture systems, consider the entire life cycle from material sourcing and construction to operational inputs and waste management to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability. Evidence: Fishes (2026).
Why does "Greenhouse Shrimp Farming: A Sustainable Model with Lower Environmental Impact and Higher Profitability" matter for design?
Understanding the full life cycle costs and environmental impacts of aquaculture systems is crucial for developing sustainable food production practices. This research provides a data-driven comparison, highlighting opportunities for design interventions that can further optimize resource use and minimize ecological footprints.
How can designers apply this research?
When designing aquaculture systems, consider the entire life cycle from material sourcing and construction to operational inputs and waste management to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability.
What were the main findings?
Greenhouse shrimp farming achieved a life cycle cost of 3.56 USD kg⁻¹ shrimp.. Construction costs were dominated by steel pipes and film materials.. Feed and land rent were the primary expenses during the farming phase.. The greenhouse model yielded a net profit of USD 5.31 per m² per cycle and a cost-profit ratio of 60.47%, significantly outperforming the Indoor Super-Intensive Culture (ISIC) model.
What research method was used?
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC).
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2026 journal from Fishes.
What should I do differently in my next project?
Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) for any new aquaculture system design to identify environmental hotspots and cost drivers, guiding material selection and operational strategies.
What are the limitations?
The study focuses on a specific greenhouse model and geographic location, which may limit generalizability. Specific technological advancements or regional variations in resource availability could influence results.