Baku State University (BSU) actively collaborates with the local community through partnerships and joint initiatives to maintain and preserve shared aquatic ecosystems. As a leading institution in environmental research and education, BSU is committed to working with various stakeholders to promote the sustainable management of water resources and the conservation of aquatic environments. Baku State University (BSU) actively supports and organizes events aimed at promoting the conservation and sustainable utilization of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and marine resources. As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 14 (Life Below Water), BSU is engaged in a number of initiatives to raise awareness and encourage responsible management of aquatic ecosystems.

A scientific seminar on "New directions of modern agriculture: hydroponics and aquaponics systems" was held by Nurlan Amrakhov, a scientific worker of the Bioengineering scientific-research laboratory of the Center of Excellence for Research, Development and Innovations, a teacher of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, at the Faculty of Biology of Baku State University (BSU).

The speaker gave extensive information about the intensification of soil salinization and the problems of agricultural fields in Azerbaijan in recent years. He noted that in order to prevent the problem, melioration, drip irrigation, organic fertilizers, vertical drainage, methods of growing plants with hydroponic and aquaponic systems in a soilless environment, and organic fertilizers are used. Although reclamation is an effective method, it is inconvenient for the budget. So, more water is used at this time, which leads to wastage of water. The speaker pointed out that the main advantage of hydroponic and aquaponic systems is the cultivation of annual and biennial plants with full health and high productivity. In recent years, scientific studies have been conducted on the cultivation of perennial plants in this way.

In the seminar, the application, use, advantages and disadvantages of hydroponic and aquaponic systems in industry were highlighted. The economic efficiency and prospects of these systems have been widely discussed.

At the end, the participants' questions were answered.