Hydroponics and sustainable zoo animal feeding at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Citation

Henry BA and Burns ZT. 2025. Hydroponics and sustainable zoo animal feeding at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. In Treiber K, Brooks M, D’amato-Anderson J, Nylander J, Eds. Proceedings of the Sixteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Oklahoma City, OK.

Abstract

Growing food inside a container under controlled environments provides healthy, more sustainable food for our zoo animals. Using a vertical growing approach in a container system provides nutrient-appropriate food year-round on a small footprint utilizing the most efficient technology. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s (CZBG) goal is to have the best, most nutritious animal food procurement program that accounts for resiliency, sustainability, and an innovative food plan for all food items needed. This should encompass efficiency, resiliency, fiscal responsibility, and sustainability.

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