Growing food in traditional ways has become increasingly more difficult, in part due to climate change and environmental factors. Team Copiosus is examining ways to maximize the production of sustainable food, using the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI). They hope to meet what they see as a planetary need and societal need for easily accessible food that is produced using a smaller bio footprint.
Team Copiosus is made up of three members: Leo Garcia, an electrical engineering student at Portland State University with interests in machine learning with AI planning, hardware design, and programming; Reed Le, a graphic design major and business minor at Portland State University; and Amanda Mays, an entrepreneur with interests in biology, sustainable agriculture, and green technology.
Their innovative system works by utilizing nitrate-rich water taken from fish tanks to water plants, which are being grown as food. When the plants eat the fish bi-product in the water, they are able to grow in a reduced amount of time, and then the clean water is rendered back to its origin – the fish tank. It’s a symbiotic relationship – giving the plants nutrient rich water, then cycling clean water back to the fish.
“I had an interest in this general idea, and it started out as a small-scale hobby. But then we decided that this could actually be something we wouldn’t mind dedicating our lives to,” shares Amanda.
In addition to the watering process, AI sensors are being used on the plants to gather data on how well they're doing. The data is added into a machine learning program to see if adjustments should be made, and that insight and information should increase productivity.
“Biofiltration is a delicate process that needs a lot of tending to, but once you have achieved that, there’s really no limit to what you can accomplish,” says Amanda.
A unique feature of this idea is that the food is grown indoors, in order to alleviate the potential impact of climate and weather issues. Because of this, there is also significant space savings and land preservation. Additionally, team Copiosus is particularly interested in providing food to those in communities that truly need it.
“We really do think that it is integral for people who have the resources to start companies and to be entrepreneurs; that they should be socially responsible, especially when our planet is struggling,” says Reed.
Reflecting on their participation in Cleantech, Reed and Amanda share some of their most valuable experiences and opportunities.
“With my role as the marketing lead in charge of brand identity and all of the marketing assets, I am able to build my skills through this challenge. So far I've done a lot of professional work for Copiosus that I'm really proud of and that I'm really excited to share with people,” notes Reed.
“I think being a black woman and going forward in something like Cleantech is inspiring. There's not a lot of representation, and no one in my family has done it. So the fact that I'm able to go forward with this and have these resources is really amazing,” says Amanda.