inputs and fuel, as well as being destructive to our environment. Also, ever changing regional climates have a documented diminishing effect on agricultural yields, with a high potential for increasing impacts. And if that is not enough, the quality of the food we eat has fallen dramatically, affecting our current health and well being of everybody. It is clear that agribusiness-as-usual is not tenable. Only sustainable, sensible and practical food production solutions are needed, and soon.

• The Solution
The Ecotierra system works within the constraints listed above to provide abundant, organic food where it is needed, near population centers, and it does this with minimal fossil fuel inputs by tapping into renewable sources and existing waste streams for its nutrient and energy needs. This strategy also reduces fossil fuel demands by reducing transportation requirements and increases food security. The design is basically a super-insulated greenhouse system which houses an integrated farming system. The primary food production is derived from an aquaponics system (a hybrid of aquaculture and hydroponics). Urban and agricultural green waste is utilized for both the nutrient inputs, as well as the energy inputs. It provides an output of compost to be utilized on local gardens and farms. Because it is super-insulated, the process runs year round, even in higher latitudes and altitudes. Thus fresh, locally grown, affordable, organic food is continuously provided in areas which currently do not enjoy this privilege without massive fossil energy inputs.

• The Concept
o Overview
The greenhouse structure is modeled after nanotube geometry and the ‘walls’ are a super-insulated paneling, or Tetrasan. The greenhouse contains an aquaponics food production system with inputs from bioreactors and heat and electricity from fuel cells.
o Nanotube Geometry
The outer shell main purpose is to separate the harsh outer elements from the optimum growing environment that is being created. The geometry of the main skeletal load bearing structure is modeled after the Carbon nanotube. A nanotube is basically half of a Fullerene with a repeating hexagon pattern through the longitudinal axis. Each node comprises a union of three, and only three, struts. Most of the faces are hexagonal.
o Tetrasan Panels
The faces of the greenhouse are made of sandwich panels (Tetrasan) which are based on Buckminster Fuller’s Octet truss design. The Octet truss is an omni-triangular truss which creates a series of tetrahedrons and octahedrons. Tetrasan panels are comparable to honeycomb paneling but much easier to manufacture using conventional vacuum forming process. The geometry consists of two outer and two inner plastic layers. The crucial inner layer geometry consists of staggered series of truncated tetrahedrons which nest upon each other to provide the octet truss geometry. The Tetrasan panel is designed to hold a partial vacuum without collapsing, accounting for the super-insulation property, similar to a Thermos vacuum bottle. Tetrasan is an extremely lightweight, transparent, cheap and super-insulated facing for the greenhouse and is a key component of this Ecotierra system. Honeycomb paneling, found throughout the design world, is an important design component. Tetrasan panels potentially have similar broad applications beyond the scope of this particular project.
o Living Systems Design
The system starts with a symbiotic and synergistic combination of a hydroponics and aquaculture (aquaponics). The water with fish waste is directed to the hydroponic system. The roots and especially the adjacent microbes take up the waste as nutrients. The now cleansed water is returned to the tank. Both of these systems create large quantities of high quality, organic, fresh food for local consumption. This seemingly complex, yet simple process is how a pond functions in an integrated farm system. Poultry could also be raised in the system, providing additional sources of high quality food such as chicken, turkey, duck and eggs. Integrated pest management, utilizing beneficial insects, replaces the need for pesticides.
o Bioreactors
Bioreactor tanks create protein rich food which is fed to the fish. Organic wastes from both agricultural and municipal sources are added to the tanks. These tanks create a controlled environment where worms and insects feed and reproduce. A portion of this population is regularly siphoned off to become fish food. The byproducts of the bioreactor can then be used as a rich soil fertilizer.

• The Features
o Nutrient flow
Waste is a concept that Nature doesn’t understand, and we want to mimic that value. The Ecotierra system creates no waste; it actually converts wastes into high quality food. The nutrients for the plants are sourced from the fish excrement, the nutrients for the fish are sourced from the worms, and the nutrients for the worms are sourced from agricultural and municipal green waste streams.
o Energy flow
The super-insulated Tetrasan panels reduce the heating demands well below current greenhouse levels. Heating and lighting needs would come from biomass gasification of agricultural residue. Ideally, this gas would be directed into a Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell, which would convert it into electricity and heat. Any excess electricity would be tapped into the grid, thus providing another benefit for the community. The exhaust of the fuel cell is CO2 and water, and a portion can be introduced into the sealed greenhouse to create a CO2 rich atmosphere. This CO2 fertilization can increase yields up to 25%.
o Eco materials
Ecotierra is working with Biolin Research, Inc. and Bruggemann Chemical to develop a natural fiber/thermoplastic composite utilizing flax and Nylon. This flax is derived from an agricultural waste stream, which is normally burned in the field. The Nylon can also be sourced from a post-consumer waste stream, especially old carpets. This material is non-toxic to the environment and can be fully recycled. It is desirable to use this material for many of the components such as the struts, tanks, hydroponic trays, etc. o Modularity, Redundancy and scalability
Each of these subsystems and components can be built and tested separately. So the system can evolve with time. Over time it allows parts to be interchanged with other systems, as needed. The intention is to make the system as scalable as possible. This will allow the system to expand or contract, within reason, to meet demand. Also, the failure of any particular component will not induce total system failure.
o Manufacturability and assembly
The design intent is to utilize simple, conventional manufacturing processes, such as vacuum forming. This will keep component costs down, as well as time, labor and complexity. The assembly of the greenhouse structure, and subsystems, will also be simple and straightforward for the same reasons.
o Recyclability
As stated, the system captures existing waste streams and utilize them for the structure (Flax/Nylon composite), heating and lighting (straw > gas > fuel cell), nutrient feedstock (local bio-wastes). All the materials will be designed to be completely recycled once their product life is finished. As an example, the Nylon material can be separated completely from the flax fiber, depolymerized using an existing thermo process, which yields Caprolactum, the monomer of Nylon 6. It is now ready to be re-formed into another greenhouse component.

• The Implementation
We are seeking strategic alliances with fuel cell companies for that component in the system. And in parallel, we are exploring other venture capital sources to provide the necessary startup funds. Upon completion, Ecotierra will manufacture and sell turnkey units of various sizes. These systems will compete economically with conventional greenhouse designs on both a capital cost and operating expense basis. Leasing the systems is also an option that will be offered to farmers and entrepreneurs seeking to bring a new food paradigm to their communities.

  • The Team
Mark Phillips – President
Mark graduated UC Santa Barbara in 1989 with BS in Mechanical Engineering. He joined startup Computer Motion in 1991 as part of the technical team, developing the world’s first surgical robot, AESOP, soon followed up with the HERMES and ZUES robotic systems. Computer Motion, now merged with Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), is the predominate leader in medical robotics. He formed Ecotierra in 2003 to explore technologies that would lighten our collective footprint on the earth and each other.

Richard Knaub – Director, Business Development
Richard is a former CEO of Roy J. Maier Products and Rico International, both multi-million dollar companies. He has been business advisor to several startup companies.

Robert J. Pester – Consultant
Robert is a self-taught California licensed architect with an emerging entrepreneurial spirit. He has long been interested in improving environmental quality and sustainable living patterns, implementing “green design” into his architectural projects at every opportunity.