SBIR Phase I: Engineered Biodegradable Pods used to Create an Optimal Growing Enviornemnt for Seedlings

SBIR第一期项目将开发一种可生物降解的织物“豆荚”，用于火灾或伐木后的重新造林。该公司正在利用其在纤维编织方面的专业知识制造一种创新设备，该设备可以使幼苗在土壤上生长，从而消除了人工种植的需要。该项目将研究使用可生物降解的豆荚的可行性，豆荚含有所需的所有土壤、肥料和营养物质，作为传统塑料种植容器的替代品。该项目的更广泛/商业影响将是提高美国各地重新造林项目的效率和降低成本。这可能会对林业企业和国家林地的生态多样性产生巨大影响。种植劳动力将减少，产品将允许在难以进入的地区进行有效的空中或车辆分配。由于各种原因，如松树皮甲虫的侵扰和气候变化，北美森林的损失最近加速了。替换消失的树木将成为未来的迫切需要。该项目将最终取代因自然过程和人类活动而失去的树木。

This SBIR Phase I project will develop a biodegradable fabric "pod" for use in reforestation of areas after fires or logging. The company is applying it's expertise in fiber weaving to manufacture an innovative device that allows the growth of seedlings on top of the soil and eliminates the need for manual planting. This project will examine the feasibility of using the biodegradable pods that contain all the necessary soil, fertilizers, and nutrients needed as an alternative to traditional plastic growing containers.The broader/commercial impact of the project will be an increase in the efficiency and reduction of the cost of reforestation projects throughout the US. This will likely have dramatic impact on forestry businesses and ecological diversity in the nation's forest land. Planting labor would be reduced and products would allow effective aerial or vehicular distribution in difficult to access areas. Loss of North American forests has accelerated recently due to a variety of reasons such as pine bark beetle infestations and climate change. Replacing lost trees will become an urgent need in the future. The project will result in the eventual replacement of trees lost through natural processes and human activities.