LCF: Life Cycle Farming, Inc.
Business Plan
Purpose
Life Cycle Farming, Inc. (LCF) is a not for profit corporation organized in New York State as a scientific organization and has applied for tax exempt status under Sections 501(c)3 and 509(a)2 of the Internal Revenue Code. LCF purposes comprise the creation, development, implementation, and promotion of science and technology that make human life on this planet sustainable for the long term. These purposes also include the development and promotion of the understanding of this science and technology and the importance and relevance of this understanding for all of us. To further these purposes LCF will conduct basic scientific research, will develop applications of this research, will actually implement these applications in economically viable businesses and commercial activities, and will promote and publicize these activities to achieve their widespread application.
This Business Plan is a working document that will be updated periodically.
Table of Contents
- Purpose Statement
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction:
- Technology License:
- Program Description: For more information, please contact us at (716) 691 6096.
Executive Summary
The core of modern agricultural is the growth of monoculture grain crops on large tracts of land. The monocultures are established and maintained by cultivation, planting and the extensive application of pesticides and fertilizers. The grain that is produced is the basis of many processed foods and animal feeds. This program, although undeniably successful, is energy intensive and has contributed significantly to a global environmental deterioration including global warming. Over half of the forests and wetlands that once existed have been destroyed, along with their carbon sequestering capability, and much of this land is now used for modern agriculture.
An alternative technology is being developed which can produce large quantities of fish while recreating forest and wetland habitat on a massive scale. This new technology can utilize any plant material but primarily will focus on the growth of diversified plant communities such as forests, which are selectively harvested in a manner that minimizes the environmental and aesthetic impact on the plant community. The harvested plant material is bioconverted into microbes, which feed intermediary animals which are converted into feed or food but most generally are fed to fish. Energy may be produced as an optional part of the process. No pesticides are used and there is no cultivation. Hence there is no soil erosion and no pesticide contamination of water and air. Minimal amounts of fertilizers are used to maintain nutrient mass balances within the system.
LCF intends to initially develop and apply this technology for the production of high quality economically priced fish from natural plant communities. The conventional products of these communities (such as timber, firewood, nuts, maple syrup, etc in the case of forests) will still be produced but in a manner which is economically, aesthetically, and ecologically integrated with the fish production. This will transform global agricultural practices by continuing to economically produce food from land while significantly reducing cultivation, and fertilizer and pesticide use. Much of the world’s lost forest and wetland habitat will be restored and this will act to reverse global warming by removing massive quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
LCF will create and implement this technology in a series of development phases consisting of a Proof of Concept System, a number of Demonstration Systems, and economically viable Working Prototype Systems.
Introduction
For over 5,000 years human civilizations and populations have been expanding, filling what seemed to be a limitless wilderness. But the planet and its resources are finite, and now most of the wilderness is gone. The expansion is coming to an end and we face a new challenge, a new necessity: sustainability. How do we preserve and use the world’s natural resources wisely, so that we as a species have a long term future, and can continue to improve our quality of life.
The growth of human population has been principally supported by the growth of technologies involving agriculture and energy. These have culminated in a modern agriculture based on the monoculture production of grains from cultivated and chemically supported fields, and in a world wide energy system based on the burning of plant produced materials, most of which are fossil fuels. Unfortunately, these technologies have also carried with them significant (although unintended) negative impacts on the planet’s natural ecosystem. Over half of the world’s forests and wetlands have been lost, cleared for wood to burn and/or converted into agricultural lands. This has resulted in widespread nutrient and toxic pollution of soils and ground and surface waters, and contributed to the greenhouse gas pollution of the atmosphere. The burning of woods and fuels has transferred massive amounts of carbon from the forests and fossil deposits and put it into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. There it has combined with other forms of atmospheric pollution to contribute to the growing problem of global warming.
There are other problems associated with the need to feed our continually rising population. Overfishing is reducing the stocks of wild fish, as is evidenced by the collapse of the Lake Erie Whitefish and the Atlantic Cod fisheries. Fish farming is trying to replace the wild fish but raising fish in confined pens in existing bodies of water tends to further pollute these bodies of water since they receive the wastes directly with little or no treatment. Furthermore, fish feed is primarily composed of fish meal and grain, and this means it basically uses existing food supplies rather than generating new food sources.
PMA addresses these problems through the development of new and modified technologies that are designed to be ecologically sustainable and which have strong economic, lifestyle or aesthetic drivers to insure their implementation. These technologies will initially focus on the sustainable harvesting of managed natural ecosystems and the bioconversion of these harvested materials into foods, feeds, energy, and processed material products. This will be done in a manner which reverses the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the pollution of our waters and soils. The aesthetics and natural biodiversity of the natural ecosystems will be maintained at all times. An essential part of the PMA mission will be not only to develop the technologies needed for a sustainable future but also to actually implement these technologies in economically successful businesses.
Plant Microbe Agriculture converts harvested plant material into microbes which are then converted into feeds or food. The technology can use any biodegradable material, but usually will use plant material derived from the growth of diversified natural plant communities. These are selectively harvested in a manner which minimizes the environmental impact of the harvesting technology. No pesticides are used and there is no cultivation. Hence there is no soil erosion and no pesticide contamination of water and air. Fertilizers are used sparingly to maintain nutrient mass balances within the system. The harvested plant material is bioconverted into microbes, which feed intermediary animals that are in turn fed to fish or other animals. Energy may be produced as an optional part of the process.
LCF’s first major project will be the Timber Fish Project which will apply the Plant Microbe Agriculture technology to forest management and the production of an increased number of forest derived products. This will expand the current practice of managing forests for timber production by utilizing the non timber parts of the harvested trees for fish production. Most of the various components of the fish production system will be included within the forest and this will increase the ecological diversity and the biodynamic stability of the forest itself. For example much of the aeration required for the bioconversion processes of the Plant Microbe Agriculture technology can be obtained from wetlands embedded within the forests.
The expected result will be that an acre of forest could produce as much high protein food (fish) as can be produced from an acre of grain used to feed animals such as cows, hogs or chickens. The forest will not need to be cultivated and it will not require the intensive use of fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides to maintain production. Hence pollution deriving from these practices will be eliminated. Also, the fish production byproducts will be recycled within the system so that there will be no waste or resulting air or water pollution. The forest will carry 20 to 30 times more carbon sequestered in the plant biomass than comparable cropland used for traditional production of grain. Thus, converting an acre of existing grain producing cropland into PMA fish producing forest can significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (by up to 450 tons per acre) while still producing comparable amounts of high protein food. Implementation on a large scale will significantly reduce the global warming caused by high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. When fish production is integrated into the normal forest management practices for timber, firewood, and other forest derived products, LCF expects that an acre of forest can generate a higher total economic return than can be obtained from land currently producing grain used for animal feeds.
TECHNOLOGY LICENSE
Life Cycle Farming, Inc. will hold a technology license for the use, promotion, and sublicensing assignment of the Plant Microbe Agriculture technology as it can be applied to Home and Small Family Farm Systems.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Initially The LCF effort will focus on the creation of Plant Microbe Agriculture. This will involve creating food production systems that utilize ecological principles to produce superior quality food at economically competitive prices. The initial application will be the Timber Fish Project which will involve the production of a high quality fish produced for less or comparable cost than conventional aquaculture or commercial fishing. This effort will be integrated with technology whereby forests become the main source of harvested plant material from which the food will be produced.
LCF will act to implement the Plant Microbe Agriculture at two different levels, as follows:
a. Home Systems for personal, family and neighborhood production. These systems will generally produce less than 1,000 pounds of fish per year and will be operated by small groups of connected people, such as families or neighborhoods, for production of food to be consumed by the group.
b. Small Family Farm Systems for small business applications. These systems will be operated as economically viable business entities, similar to existing small family farms, and will produce food for sale by their owners and operators as well as for personal consumption. Generally they will produce less than 100,000 pounds of fish per year.
To maintain LCF status as a not for profit organization all Home Systems applications of Plant Microbe Agriculture technology will be available to everyone, everywhere, for no charge. Small Family Farm Systems will be licensed through one or more farm cooperatives in the industrialized nations with a modest royalty payment being returned to LCF to support continuing R&D. No fees will be charged for third world or developing nation applications.
LCF will create and maintain a non restricted website which will contain all technical and operational information, designs, specifications and operational protocols for the Home Systems. This open and free site will also contain general information pertaining to the Life Cycle Farming technology, research programs, marketing and environmental issues.
LCF may also sublicense its technology to one or more non related Cooperatives which will facilitate the small family farm application of the Life Cycle Farming technology. Membership in such Cooperatives will be available to all interested parties in a non discriminatory manner consistent with the general Cooperative requirements of open membership and democratic control.
Organization:
LCF: Life Cycle Farming is a not for profit corporation incorporated in New York State as a scientific organization. It has applied for tax exempt status under Sections 501(c)3 and 509(a)2 of the Internal Revenue Code. LCF will solicit support from the general public, other non profit organizations, and governmental agencies and use these funds to propagate global sustainability by creating and commercially applying new technologies. As these ventures become successful they will provide ongoing support for the continuing work of the organization.
LCF will be organized into four operating divisions as follows:
Division 1: Administration and Management.
This division will conduct the financial, legal, licensing, administrative, managerial, and fund raising efforts of LCF.
Division 2: Research and Technology Development.
This division will conduct basic scientific research leading to the development of the Life Cycle Technologies which will promote environmental stewardship and global sustainability
Division 3: Production Systems.
This division will design, build, and operate a series of production units which will employ the technologies and principles of LCF.
Division 4: Community Integration.
This division will mediate the integration of research and production efforts and results with the local and global communities within which they are embedded. Using an open source interactive website, video documentation, a virtual farmers market, and automated community building software, LCF will perform a variety of distributive, informational, and facilitative functions to enhance its goals of environmental stewardship and global sustainability.
There are currently several LCF Programs in various stages of development as follows:
Program 1. PMA: Plant Microbe Agriculture. This program will harvest plant material from diversified natural ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and savannahs, convert these plant materials into microbes which in turn can serve as food for other larger animals, or, when appropriately processed, into food for people. The initial project in the PMA program is the Timber Fish Project which focuses on the production of fish from diversified natural forest environments.
Program 2. Media. LCF intends to promote its mission and achievements through a website and a documentary. These will provide vehicles to inform the public about the history, commitment, and technology development now centered in LCF. This program will also provide specific details on design, construction and operation of Home and Small Family Farm System applications.
Program 3. MAEP: Material and Energy Production. This program focuses on the use and reuse of natural materials (wood, weeds, natural fibers, etc.) for the environmentally compatible and sustainable generation of consumer products and energy. This program is just beginning and its initial focus will be on the small scale use of gasification and pyrolytic technologies for the production of clean burning energy fuels from the non degraded residues of the plant material used in the Plant Microbe Agriculture process. The program will be subsequently expanded to include the use of other forest and agricultural byproducts and waste products.
Program 4. Foundations: Basic Formalisms Research. LCF recognizes that the largest barrier to global sustainability is the inability of people to covariantly communicate and cooperate with each other. Thus this program extends the ongoing 40 plus year research by Jon Ray Hamann and Jere Northrop in formal sign systems by continuing the development of Relational Systems Theory relationalsystems.net and its universal language implementation in Ododu ododu.com.
Program 1 Development:
The program development timetable will consist of a number of development phases, followed by an initial production phase (consisting of the construction and operation of several full scale small family farm production systems). Successful operation of these production systems will lead to a series of rollout phases to implement the technology throughout the world; first in the US, then in Europe, and finally in the rest of the world.
Phase One; Proof of Concept Demonstration Project:
This project was initially operated for nine months in 2004 and 2005. At that time it consisted of a 104 gallon benchtop system which contained a weed, hay and wood degradation system, a microbial growth system containing a procedure for harvesting a concentrated microbial biomass, a Small Intermediary Animal System containing crayfish, snails and aquatic worms, and a fish tank containing fish. The objectives of the project were: to validate that weeds, hay and wood could be bioconverted into a harvestable biomass; that this biomass would be consumed by Small Intermediary Animals such as worms, snails and crayfish; that fish would eat the Small Intermediary Animals and, that all byproducts produced by various system components could be recycled back to other system components where they would be productively utilized.
This project was reinitiated on 7/28/07 and is continuing in a modified form at the present time.Phase Two: Media Program:
This will consist of the development of a web site and the beginning of a video documentary. This program was initiated in January 2007.
Phase Three: Forest Use Analysis Project:
This project involves the review of conventional forest production and management practices to evaluate how they could be optimally integrated with the Plant Microbe Agriculture and TimberFish Programs. It will require obtaining quantitative production data on all parts of the harvested trees and how this translates into net value given the possibility of using part or all of this material for fish and soils production.
LCF plans to lease woodland properties and to document the production of timber, firewood, maple syrup, and other forest products from these properties. These products will be sold and detailed records of quantities, costs, revenues, etc. will be kept. As the Plant Microbe Agriculture technology is further developed in subsequent phases it will be integrated with this program.
Phase Four; Home System Woodland Demonstration Project:
This project consists of a 7,000 gallon, woodland pond which is spring fed at a rate of about 10 to 20 gallons per minute. It illustrates the Phase One Proof of Concept system principles as they are manifested in a natural situation. Thus fish are produced by eating intermediary animals such as insect larvae, snails, worms, and crayfish which feed on microbes degrading plant material. There are two different forms of a Harvested Plant Material Degradation System which are implemented in this working prototype. One of these is a submerged system in which the plant material is bioconverted while being underwater. The second utilizes a perched system which is located above the water surface and is periodically irrigated with pond water. In this system the Small Intermediary Animals fall into the pond where they can be consumed by the fish. The system was built during the summer and fall of 2006 and was stocked with trout on June 22, 2007. Production is expected to be higher than natural levels and high water quality will be maintained at all times.
In the spring of 2008 the existing woodland pond system will be expanded by constructing a connected addition of at least 100,000 gallons. This will be done in a manner which will allow full flow through connectivity once the expansion is complete. At this point the system will become a fully functional Home System capable of producing up to 1,000 pounds of fish per year.
Phase Five: Initial Working Prototype Small Family Farm System:
This will be a fully functional production system which is currently scheduled to be implemented in the spring of 2008. The system will be in the 1 to 3 million gallon range, and should produce 10,000 or more pounds of fish per year. Design work is in progress with construction starting in June of 2008 or as soon after that as funds become available.
Phase Six: Small Family Farm Scale Up:
In 2009 additional Small Family Farm Systems will be installed. These may be larger than the initial Prototype Small Family Farm System and will incorporate a combination of the process specifications and improvements developed in Phases 4 and 5. These systems may be installed in a variety of differing climates and environmental communities depending on resources and collaborators. These systems will be designed to start producing revenue during their second or third year of operation
Current Project Operations:
The Proof of Concept Demonstration Project which was reinitiated on July 28, 2007 consists of a 50 gallon benchtop system. It includes a Harvested Plant Material Degradation System containing wood sticks and branches, and a Small Intermediary Animal System comprising principally aquatic worms. Microbial growth occurs in both systems. This project should generate preliminary bioconversion information.
The Home System Woodland Demonstration Project is monitoring the growth of the stocked trout and identifying the variety and relative quantity of Small Intermediary Animals which the trout are consuming as food.
Fund Raising:
LCF will seek support at; the National level from the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Environmental Protection; the International level from the United Nations and other Developed Nation Governments; the public charity and private foundation level from a variety of not-for-profit organizations, and at the level of the individual contributor.
Corporate Structure:
The Company was incorporated on August 31, 2007 as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of New York. Application for tax exempt status has been made as a scientific organization under Sections 501(c)3 and 509(a)2 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Management:
The Officers of the Corporation are:
Jere Northrop; President and Treasurer
Lynn B. Northrop Secretary
The Board of Directors of the Corporation consists of:
Jere Northrop Chairman
Jon Ray Hamann
Christopher Hanks
William Dale Koehler
Lara A. Northrop
Lynn B. Northrop
Benjamin T. Queen II
Jere and Lynn Northrop are married and Lara Northrop is their daughter.
The four major Program Directors are:
Plant Microbe Agriculture. Jere Northrop
Media. Steve Rosenthal
Material and Energy Production. Leonid Kutsin
Foundations. Jon Ray Hamann