Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Group Members:
Scott Fischer, Logan Gleeson, Jonathan Stickle, and Eryk Lewandowski
Unmet Need:
"Ocean acidification" is a term used when talking about the recent rise in the acidity of the ocean. In recent years, we are starting to see what will become of our planet if we do not begin to act soon. Eventually our ocean will become inhospitable to small fish which (through the food chain) will kill every fish. This would be a huge economic and ecologic loss for the world--specifically fisheries.
Project Idea:
Since the Industrial Revolution, our ocean has been absorbing more carbon dioxide than ever before. In these 300 years, the pH of our ocean has dropped by 0.1. While this may seem insignificant and small, it means that the ocean has become 30% more acidic!
Our solution to this slowly catastrophic problem is to mass-produce phytoplankton and sell them to fisheries to protect their precious fish.
The cause of the rise in acidity is due to increased levels of carbon in the ocean. Utilizing photosynthesis, phytoplankton take carbon and energy from the sun to produce their own food. This reduces the pH of the ocean very slightly each time. By mass-producing phytoplankton, fisheries could by phytoplankton and place them in the waters they use. They protect their precious fish and the ocean's pH will rise little by little, eventually becoming restored to its original state.
Our solution to this slowly catastrophic problem is to mass-produce phytoplankton and sell them to fisheries to protect their precious fish.
The cause of the rise in acidity is due to increased levels of carbon in the ocean. Utilizing photosynthesis, phytoplankton take carbon and energy from the sun to produce their own food. This reduces the pH of the ocean very slightly each time. By mass-producing phytoplankton, fisheries could by phytoplankton and place them in the waters they use. They protect their precious fish and the ocean's pH will rise little by little, eventually becoming restored to its original state.
Materials:
Industrial Vats for growing the cultures - $1750-$2000
Salt Water: $200 per Vat |
Phytoplankton: $6,000 (50 Gallons)
|
Facilities:
Warehouse for Phytoplankton Production - $5,200,000
(http://www.cityfeet.com/cont/ForSale/LN18840755/75-Williams-Avenue-San-Francisco-CA-94124)
Insurance for Warhouse - approximatly $2,500 per year
(http://www.cityfeet.com/cont/ForSale/LN18840755/75-Williams-Avenue-San-Francisco-CA-94124)
Insurance for Warhouse - approximatly $2,500 per year
Estimated Costs:
Full Development Cost: $5,217,300
Unit: 1 Gallon of Phytoplankton
Unit cost of production: $120 (Initial, eventually will be free/self-sustaining farm)
Unit sale price: $300
We have over 200% sale price when compared to wholesale in order to make sure our company profits. Eventually we can lower prices when we have more phytoplankton.
Unit: 1 Gallon of Phytoplankton
Unit cost of production: $120 (Initial, eventually will be free/self-sustaining farm)
Unit sale price: $300
We have over 200% sale price when compared to wholesale in order to make sure our company profits. Eventually we can lower prices when we have more phytoplankton.
Timeline:
Our first year at our company will be focused on setting up all of our tanks, getting a working stock of phytoplankton, and marketing ourselves to fisheries. If we can make it into any big fishing companies, they will buy our product and get us on our feet to pay our debts back. If all goes well, our second year can be devoted to more marketing and growing more phytoplankton stock. In the future, we would like to go as far as asking for government funding to help restore the Earth's oceans.
Sources:
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F
http://www.nrdc.org/oceans/acidification/dive-into-the-science.asp
http://premiumaquatics.com/products/dts-premium-reef-blend-30-oz.html?gclid=CKqq_JPHvMECFUQaaQodhCUAXA
http://www.nrdc.org/oceans/acidification/dive-into-the-science.asp
http://premiumaquatics.com/products/dts-premium-reef-blend-30-oz.html?gclid=CKqq_JPHvMECFUQaaQodhCUAXA