DIVAGRI researcher Henk Stander was awarded the Aquaculture Personality of the Year award at the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa (AASA) Conference that took place in Stellenbosch from 9 to 13 September 2024. Mr Stander is responsible for the development of the desalination greenhouse technology on the DIVAGRI project. The desalination greenhouse is a technology that transforms saltwater into freshwater, which can be used for irrigation or mineralized for drinking.
This desalination process is facilitated by halophytes, plants that have adapted to grow in saline conditions. As these plants grow, they humidify the air within the greenhouse. The SDGH then uses passive and active dehumidification to produce freshwater from this humid air. Mr Stander has linked this technology to an aquaponics system using the halophyte Salicornia to reduce the salt content of the water.
Mr Stander has also served for 17 years uninterrupted on the AASA EXCO in various portfolios, was a member of the LOC for the previous 6 Aquaculture Scientific Conferences and Chairman of the LOC of the last 5 Aquaculture Scientific Conferences. He is the current chairman of the Western Cape Trout Association and serves as an EXCO member on the Tilapia, Aquaponics, and AquacultureSA Associations.