Nutrient Producer

As a solution to nutrient production, here are some of the problems I considered:

1. Renewable source.
2. Need to provide all essential nutrients.
3. Must have resources available to produce in aftertime conditions.
4. Must be simple. Consider this, any nutrient production will entail a system. Any system efficiency is the product of the efficiency of the components. Thus, if a system has 4 components and each one is 80% efficient then the efficiency of the system is only 41% (80% x 80% x 80% x 80%). Keep it simple and efficient.
5. Along with #4, any production system must be easily recovered from the inevitable catastrophe. Murphy's Law would say something will go wrong.

What I have chosen with the problems noted in 1. and 2. above in mind is spirilina cultivation. Spirilina is easy to cultivate (I have yet to prove this but research indicates it so) and Provides Most (not all) of the essential nutrients needed to survive. I am not a nutritionist but would really appreciate any input from anybody out there regarding the nutritional values and required daily intake of spirilina and what other supplement might be required. Based on my uninformed research, I have determined that 1.5 oz. per day of dry spirilina will supply most of an adult's daily nutrient requirements. Under ideal conditions, 100 square feet will produce 12 oz. of dry spirilina daily. So the potential is under ideal conditions 100 square feet could produce nutrients for 8 adults. Again, I cannot verify this and would welcome any input from anyone who is more knowledgeable. But before anybody should shrink in disbelief, take your own current diet, remove all the fiber and dry the remaining liquid to a powder. What do you think would be left? Or maybe you think the body needs fat and meat to survive then look at this way, what do cows eat to survive? And what would the non-fiber content of that be in dry weight?

In regards to the problems noted in 4. and 5. above, is that Spirilina requires little in the way of "nurturing." It is supposed to be forgiving in that it will grow within a wide range of it's requirements provided the basics are supplied. Along with 4. above, the production system must be easily recovered from the inevitable catastrophe. The spirilina growing cycle is very short. If there is an "upset" production can resume very quickly. Provide for reduncy. It is never a question of "if" something will go wrong but "when" something will go wrong. Thus, instead of 1 large growing trough, operate 2 or more smaller ones. And always have multiple sources of "seed" stock available. If all the spirilina dies, the game is over. Spirilina "seed" culture can be obtained from the biology dept. of U. of Texas. The recommended strain is Spirilina Plantensis, culture number LB2340.

Offered by Gary.