The TerraExplorer is a low-cost, open-source environmental sensor designed to fight climate change

Climate change is causing major soil erosion, threatening agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems. Cropland plays a vital role, using vast amounts of water (70% in the US alone) and capturing carbon in the soil.

Intensive farming, while economically important, harms the environment. Sustainable practices are needed to harness soil's carbon capture potential, but current solutions mostly benefit large-scale agriculture and research institutions. Experts are unsure if large-scale soil carbon capture is viable due to social and economic challenges.

Soil health depends on microbial activity. Measuring soil carbon relies on infrequent tests, not continuous monitoring. However, understanding how microbes respond to climate change is crucial for decision-making by policymakers, farmers, and developers. Better tools are needed to consider the complex interactions between agriculture, ecology, and climate.

AgrIoTerra is an affordable, open-source system that continuously monitors various environmental factors in soil (pH, temperature, humidity, respiration) and displays them in a user-friendly interface. This data can be stored wirelessly, transferred to mobile devices, and even connect to multiple sensors to create a larger monitoring grid. Despite its low cost, AgrIoTerra's sensors rival expensive equipment in terms of accuracy, especially for soil respiration.

The system goes beyond basic monitoring by offering a deeper look into soil health. It integrates with a reusable microfluidic device that captures microbial communities for genetic analysis. This allows researchers to understand how these microbes respond to changing environmental conditions and how their activity relates to carbon sequestration.

AgrIoTerra provides a comprehensive and affordable way to study soil health and microbial communities. This information is valuable for researchers, farmers, and policymakers who are working to improve agricultural practices and combat climate change.

Millions of farmers could significantly improve their operations and environmental impact through a low-cost soil respiration device. By monitoring real-time microbial activity, farmers gain insights into their soil health, a key factor in crop health and water use efficiency. With this data, they can tailor irrigation practices, potentially reducing water usage while maintaining optimal crop yields. Furthermore, understanding soil health allows for targeted nutrient amendments, minimizing excess fertilizer application that can harm surrounding ecosystems. This affordable technology empowers farmers to make data-driven decisions, optimizing their practices for both economic gain and environmental responsibility.

The low-cost soil respiration device designed for agriculture holds immense potential for other industries like forestry and carbon sink markets, while also empowering indigenous communities in remote areas. Here's how:

• Forestry: Precise measurement of carbon exchange through soil respiration is crucial for accurately assessing forest health and its ability to capture carbon dioxide. Forestry companies can use this data to optimize forest management practices, maximizing carbon sequestration and potentially generating additional revenue through carbon credits in carbon sink markets.

• Carbon Sink Markets: The device's affordability opens doors for wider participation in carbon sink markets. Indigenous communities managing forests can use it to demonstrate the carbon capture potential of their land, allowing them to participate in these markets and generate income for sustainable forest management.

• Empowering Indigenous Communities: The device's user-friendly and potentially portable design makes it accessible to remote communities. Indigenous people can use it to monitor the health of their land and track the impact of traditional practices on carbon sequestration. This data can be used to advocate for land rights and secure funding for sustainable forest management projects.

The low-cost soil respiration device acts as a bridge. It allows forestry companies to manage forests for both economic gain and environmental responsibility, while empowering indigenous communities to participate in global conservation efforts and generate income through sustainable practices. This fosters a win-win situation for the environment and local communities.

Our team, comprised of botanists, ecophysiologists, engineers, microbiologists, and volunteers, possesses a powerful combination of expertise to design and deliver the low-cost soil respiration device. Here's why:

• Diverse Skillset: Your team bridges the gap between scientific understanding and practical application. Microbiologists and botanists provide the scientific foundation, while engineers develop the technology. Inclusion of volunteers fosters community engagement.

• Proximity to Target Populations: Located near the Sierra de Guadalupe and other cloud forests in Mexico, Glyxon Biolabs has firsthand understanding of the needs of indigenous communities. Collaboration with the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix further strengthens your reach across borders.

• Focus on Inclusivity: Training researchers at CIMMYT (Mexico), ASU (Arizona), and indigenous NGOs in device coding and microbial identification demonstrates your commitment to inclusive innovation. This empowers these communities to not only use the technology but also contribute to its development.

• Citizen Science Integration: Collaboration with citizen science groups like the Phoenix Myconauts broadens the impact of your project. Citizen scientists can collect valuable data and raise awareness about soil health.

• Portable Labs: The inclusion of portable molecular biology labs enables on-site microbial analysis, a crucial aspect of understanding soil health and carbon sequestration.

In essence, out alliance unique combination of scientific expertise, geographic location, and commitment to inclusivity positions your team perfectly to deliver this innovative solution to a diverse range of users, from leading research institutions to indigenous communities. This collaborative approach fosters not just technological advancement, but also empowers communities to become active participants in environmental monitoring and conservation efforts.

Our team is dedicated to refining a readily functional prototype of an environmental sensor with the potential to revolutionize soil health monitoring. We are actively engaged in several key areas to advance this innovative device:

Validation and Refinement:

• Field Testing: Extensive field tests are underway at the Desert Botanical Garden, comparing our prototype to commercially available equipment. This rigorous approach ensures the accuracy and reliability of our sensor's measurements.
• Power Optimization: We are exploring ways to optimize the device's energy usage. This includes testing solar power and a friendly Graphic User Interfase to ensure long-term, sustainable operation in the field.

Enhanced Functionality:

• Communication Iteration: Building upon successful initial communication tests, we are working on the next iteration of data transmission capabilities. This will allow for seamless data collection and analysis, facilitating real-time decision-making for users.
• Reusable Microbial Cartridge: Development is underway for a reusable soil cartridge. This innovative design will integrate with microfluidic devices, enabling the capture and analysis of microbial communities within the soil itself.

Open-Source Accessibility:

• Volunteer Training: We are committed to open-source development and inclusivity. Training materials are being prepared for volunteers, empowering them to not only use the device, but also contribute to its ongoing development. This fosters a collaborative community around soil health monitoring.

Finalization and Distribution:

• Open-Source Design: Our ultimate goal is to create a final open-source device with commercial leverage. This approach allows for widespread adoption and customization, benefiting researchers, farmers, and citizen scientists alike.
• Encasing, Assembly, and Programming: We are currently evaluating various options for the device's encasing, assembly, and programming repository. This ensures user-friendliness and facilitates broader accessibility.

By actively focusing on these areas of refinement, Glyxon Biolabs is pushing the boundaries of soil health monitoring technology. Our commitment to open-source development and community engagement ensures that this innovative device will be a powerful tool for environmental research, sustainable agriculture, and empowering local communities around the world. We believe that by working together, we can unlock the secrets of healthy soil and build a more sustainable future for our planet.

Our team has developed a groundbreaking, low-cost environmental sensor for real-time soil health monitoring. Our readily functional prototype shows immense promise to empower researchers, farmers, and citizen scientists in their pursuit of a more sustainable future. However, to fully unlock its potential, we seek SOLVE's invaluable support in three key areas:

1. Expanding User Base and Data Collection:

• Identifying Users: SOLVE's extensive network can connect us with diverse user groups, including farmers, citizen scientists, academic researchers, and carbon market professionals. This broadens the reach of our technology and facilitates data collection across various fields.
• Volunteer Recruitment: SOLVE's expertise in volunteer recruitment can help us build a robust network of testers. This allows us to gather real-world data from a wider range of environments, enriching our database and informing further device enhancements.

2. Enhanced Device Capabilities:

• Data-Driven Improvement: The SOLVE program's data analysis capabilities can be instrumental in interpreting user data. By analyzing collected information, we can identify areas for improvement, leading to a more sophisticated and user-friendly device.
• Integration Customization: SOLVE's problem-solving expertise can help us refine the sensor's integration with different user needs across industries. This customization ensures optimal functionality for farmers, researchers, and carbon market administrators alike.

3. Scaling Up for Impact:

• Open-Source Implementation: SOLVE's knowledge of open-source frameworks can guide us in creating a user-friendly platform for device assembly, programming, and data access. This fosters a collaborative community and facilitates widespread adoption.
• Commercial Viability: SOLVE's experience can help us navigate the path toward commercialization, ensuring financial sustainability and wider accessibility of our technology.

A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future:

By partnering with SOLVE, Glyxon Biolabs can significantly accelerate the development and impact of our soil health monitoring device. Together, we can create a powerful tool that empowers communities, fosters sustainable practices, and unlocks the secrets of healthy soil for a greener future.

A Game-changer for soil health: A low cost, reconfigurable environmental sensor. Our team is pioneering a revolutionary low-cost environmental sensor with the potential to transform our understanding of soil health. This innovative device boasts several key features that make it a game-changer for various stakeholders:

Farmers:

• Real-Time Decision Making: The sensor provides continuous monitoring of soil respiration, a crucial indicator of microbial activity and overall soil health. This empowers farmers to make data-driven decisions about irrigation, fertilization, and other practices, potentially optimizing crop yields and resource use.

Carbon Markets and Sinks:

• Accurate Sequestration Measurement: Precise measurement of soil respiration allows for a more accurate assessment of carbon sequestration potential in forests and other ecosystems. This benefits carbon markets by providing verifiable data for carbon credits, incentivizing sustainable land management practices.

• Wider Participation: The sensor's affordability opens doors for broader participation in carbon markets. Landowners and indigenous communities can use it to demonstrate the carbon capture potential of their land, creating new income opportunities through sustainable practices.

Researchers:

• Unveiling Soil Secrets: The sensor goes beyond basic measurements, offering the ability to integrate with reusable microfluidic devices for capturing and analyzing microbial communities. This provides researchers with valuable insights into how microbial activity interacts with changing environmental conditions, aiding in the development of improved soil management strategies.

Reconfigurable Advantage:

• Adaptable to Diverse Needs: The sensor's modular design allows for reconfiguration. Researchers can add modules to explore specific aspects of soil health, while farmers can focus on core measurements for practical applications.

Overall Impact:

This innovative sensor promises to revolutionize soil health monitoring. By empowering farmers, researchers, and carbon market participants with real-time, accurate data, it can unlock a new era of sustainable agriculture, robust carbon sequestration practices, and a deeper understanding of our precious soil ecosystems.

Real-Time Revolution: How Low-Maintenance Sensors Transform Key Industries

Imagine a world where farmers and foresters make decisions based on real-time, accurate data about their land, not estimates or guesswork. This vision is becoming reality with the emergence of low-maintenance environmental sensors offering continuous monitoring. Here's how these sensors can rapidly transform key industries:

Faster, More Precise Decisions:

• Farming: Real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and respiration empowers farmers to optimize irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. They can react to immediate changes, minimizing waste and maximizing yields. This translates to increased profitability and reduced environmental impact.

• Forestry: Continuous monitoring of soil health and carbon sequestration allows forest managers to adjust practices for optimal carbon capture. This data can be used for carbon credit trading, generating revenue for sustainable forestry.

Boosting Precision Agriculture:

• Data-Driven Decisions: Real-time data eliminates the need for estimations, leading to more precise application of resources. Farmers can tailor fertilizer and water use to specific areas within a field, maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste.

• Improved Economic Returns: Precision agriculture with real-time data allows farms to operate with tighter margins, reducing costs and maximizing profits. This translates to a more resilient and competitive agricultural sector.

Real-Time Feedback for Environmental Sustainability:

• Reduced Environmental Impact: By understanding their land's needs in real-time, farmers can minimize water use and unnecessary chemical applications. This leads to healthier soil, reduced pollution of waterways, and a more sustainable agricultural system.

• Enhanced Forest Management: Real-time data on carbon sequestration allows forest managers to identify areas requiring specific attention. This fosters more efficient carbon capture strategies, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.

The Power of Continuous Monitoring:

Low-maintenance environmental sensors present a paradigm shift. By providing real-time data, they empower farmers and foresters to make faster, more precise decisions. This translates to increased economic returns, improved environmental sustainability, and a significant boost to the precision agriculture market. This technology has the potential to revolutionize how we manage our land, ensuring both economic prosperity and environmental responsibility.

From SETI to Soil: How Decentralized Sensors Unlock Global Answers

Imagine a network of environmental sensors functioning like a giant, collaborative science project, akin to SETI's hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence. Just as millions of radio telescopes contribute slivers of data to a vast cosmic search, a decentralized grid of low-cost sensors can revolutionize our understanding of global carbon sequestration.

Collective Power in Small Packages:

These sensors, individually affordable and reconfigurable, empower a critical mass of users – from farmers to citizen scientists – to become data contributors. Each sensor, like a single telescope in the SETI network, gathers local data on soil respiration, a key indicator of carbon capture.

Strength in Numbers:

As more users adopt the technology, the data pool expands exponentially. Similar to social media apps where local posts contribute to global trends, this sensor grid paints a progressively more accurate picture of global carbon sequestration patterns. Users can customize the sensor's focus based on their local needs (e.g., monitoring specific crops) while still contributing to the broader goal of understanding global carbon capture.

The Grid Advantage:

This "grid-like" approach offers several advantages:

• Accessibility: Low-cost sensors democratize participation, enabling data collection from diverse geographical areas and ecosystems.
• Adaptability: Reconfigurable sensors allow users to tailor data collection to their specific needs, enriching the overall data pool.
• Real-Time Insights: Continuous data provides a dynamic picture, allowing for immediate adjustments in practices – a stark contrast to traditional, infrequent methods.

Understanding Complex Systems:

This data grid empowers researchers and policymakers to:

• Track Carbon Trends: Monitor global carbon sequestration patterns over time, identifying areas of high or low capture.
• Optimize Supply Chains: Understand the environmental impact of different agricultural practices across vast supply chains, allowing for more sustainable production methods.
• Inform Policy Decisions: Develop data-driven policies to incentivize practices that promote carbon capture in agricultural lands.

A Collective Effort for a Sustainable Future:

Just like SETI harnesses the power of the crowd to search the cosmos, a decentralized sensor grid empowers individuals to contribute to a global challenge. By working together, we can unlock a deeper understanding of our planet's carbon cycle and pave the way for a more sustainable future. This small-scale approach, with its collective impact, holds immense potential for tackling complex environmental issues.

Revolutionizing Carbon Sequestration Monitoring: Tiny Sensors, Big Impact

Imagine a world where millions of tiny, USB-sized sensors, scattered across the globe, continuously monitor the critical exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and soil. This is the future envisioned by Remote In-Situ Sensing, a groundbreaking approach utilizing long-range radio technologies for affordable, real-time data collection on planetary carbon sequestration.

The Power of Small:

These compact sensors offer several advantages over traditional methods:

• Affordability: Their low cost allows for widespread deployment, creating a dense network of data points. This surpasses the limitations of expensive, isolated monitoring stations.

• Long-Range Radio: Advanced radio technologies enable data transmission over vast distances, eliminating the need for physical data retrieval from remote locations.

• Real-Time Data: Continuous monitoring provides a dynamic picture of carbon flux, allowing for immediate insights into carbon sequestration patterns.

Building a Cloud-Based Model:

The millions of data points collected by these sensors feed into a centralized cloud-based model. This model:

• Analyzes Trends: Identifies patterns and trends in carbon flux across diverse geographical locations and environmental conditions.

• Predicts Future Changes: Utilizes machine learning algorithms to predict how changes in climate, land use, and agricultural practices will affect carbon sequestration.

• Informs Decision-Making: Provides valuable insights for policymakers and land managers to develop strategies that optimize carbon capture in soil ecosystems.

Unlocking Hidden Potential:

Remote In-Situ Sensing offers significant benefits:

• Improved Accuracy: The sheer volume of data collected from a vast network leads to a more accurate and detailed understanding of carbon sequestration processes.

• Enhanced Predictions: Real-time data facilitates the development of more precise models for predicting future carbon flux patterns.

• Global Impact: This affordable technology empowers participation from developing countries and remote regions, leading to a truly global picture of carbon sequestration.

A Small Step, a Giant Leap:

Remote In-Situ Sensing represents a paradigm shift in monitoring carbon sequestration. By harnessing the power of small, affordable sensors and cloud-based computing, we can move towards a future with a deeper understanding of our planet's carbon cycle. This knowledge is crucial for mitigating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

David J. Castillo (lead): Microbiologist 

Toby Sinkinson (Engineering) 

Ross Satchell ( Engineering) 

Whaleeha Gudiño (Ecophysiology) 

Ali Schuessler (Mycologist) 

Our dedicated engineering team has spent the past 4-5 years developing an initial prototype for an integrated radio grid environmental sensor. This latest iteration, refined over the last year, leverages big data to create a powerful environmental monitoring tool.

Our diverse team is a core strength. 30% are accomplished women who have been instrumental in the project's development. We embrace inclusivity, with LGBTQ+ members and ongoing collaboration with indigenous Mexican organizations. Our team reflects the richness of science, with 25% Hispanic members and expertise spanning various scientific disciplines, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.

Open Source Environmental Data Solutions

Customer Segments:

• Beneficiaries:
  • Indigenous communities
  • Citizen Scientists
  • Farmers
• Customers:
  • NGOs
  • Makers & DIY Biologists
  • Academics

Value Propositions:

• Social Value Proposition:
  • Empower communities with environmental data for informed decision-making (e.g., indigenous communities monitoring land health).
  • Foster citizen science and open data collection.
  • Increase agricultural productivity and sustainability for small-scale farmers.
• Customer Value Proposition:
  • Low-cost, open-source data loggers and sensors.
  • Turnkey solutions and development kits for customization.
  • Access to big data models and interoperable platforms.
  • Training and online resources for assembly and data analysis.

Channels:

• Dedicated website with e-commerce for kits and assembled devices.
• Partnerships with NGOs and research institutions for distribution and training.
• Online communities and forums for makers and citizen scientists.

Impact Measures:

• Number of data loggers deployed in beneficiary communities.
• Increase in citizen science participation through data collection.
• Improved environmental management practices among farmers.
• Growth of the open-source developer community.

Revenue Streams:

• Sale of assembled data loggers and sensor kits.
• Subscriptions for access to advanced data models and analytics tools.
• Grants and donations for social impact initiatives.

Key Activities:

• Develop and manufacture low-cost, open-source data logger and sensor devices.
• Maintain and update online data repository and big data models.
• Provide training materials and workshops for data logger assembly and data analysis.
• Foster online communities and collaboration platforms for citizen scientists and makers.

Key Resources:

• Open-source hardware designs for data loggers and sensors.
• Online data infrastructure and big data models.
• Team of engineers, data scientists, and community managers.

Key Partnerships:

• NGOs and research institutions for distribution and training.
• Educational institutions for curriculum development and student engagement.
• Online communities and forums for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Cost Structure:

• Hardware development and manufacturing.
• Website and data infrastructure maintenance.
• Training materials and community management.

By offering low-cost, open-source solutions, you empower various stakeholders with environmental data collection and analysis tools. The key to success lies in balancing social impact with financial sustainability through a combination of product sales, subscription services, and strategic partnerships.

Funding Our Mission: A Multi-Pronged Approach

We'll secure funding for our impactful work through a diverse strategy, combining revenue streams with grant opportunities.

Revenue Generation:

• Product Sales: Our core income will come from selling open-source data logger kits and pre-assembled devices. This caters to various customer segments, from DIY enthusiasts to NGOs seeking deployable solutions.
• Training & Services: We'll offer training programs for data logger assembly and advanced data analysis using our big data models. This generates additional revenue while empowering users.
• Subscription Services: Access to sophisticated data models and analytics tools can be offered as a subscription service, providing a recurring revenue stream.

Grant Funding:

• Impact-Driven Grants: We'll actively seek grants from organizations aligned with our social mission. This includes foundations supporting citizen science, indigenous communities, and sustainable agriculture.
• R&D Grants: Building on our initial seed funding, we'll pursue further grants to refine our prototypes and develop the final product. Seed funders like experiment.com are a great starting point, and there are numerous grants available in the open-source hardware space.

Strategic Partnerships & Sponsorships:

• Government Service Contracts: We'll work with local governments to provide cost-effective environmental monitoring solutions for farmers. This creates a win-win situation, enhancing agricultural practices and generating revenue through service contracts.
• Industry Sponsorships: We'll seek sponsorships from companies in the forestry and agro-industry. This allows us to leverage their expertise and resources while showcasing our product's value to their target audience.
• Open Source Community Engagement: We'll actively participate in the "maker movement" and open-source hardware ecosystem. Showcasing our products at relevant fairs and conferences allows us to connect with potential customers, sponsors, and collaborators within this like-minded community.

Building Trust & Demonstrating Impact:

Showcasing real-world examples is crucial. We'll share success stories from testers and case studies highlighting the benefits of our product. This builds trust among potential funders, sponsors, and customers, solidifying our value proposition.

By implementing this multi-pronged approach, we can secure the resources needed to develop and deliver our impactful open-source environmental data solutions.