zacatech (214)

Zacatech

Sivakami SambasivamStephanie LinPaula TrepmanSamantha HartzellMary MastermanFrancisco Javier Valenzuela Acosta

Education on low-cost agricultural technologies to improve the livelihoods of subsistence farmers in Mexico.

The Population: Zacatecas, Mexico

State of Zacatecas:- 2nd highest degree of poverty and marginalization in Mexico

Municipality of Pinos:- High marginalization- 300 scattered, rural farming communities

The Problem

Focal Problem

Solution Implementation

Causes Cost – high riskLimited access to

informationLack of precedence

Lack of technology

Effects Cycle of subsistence farming

Low crop yields Lack of crop diversity

Childhood MalnutritionDiabetes

Difficulty in accessing produce Decreased income

Our Solution: the Technology

Cow manure

Daily maintenance

High-impact Fertilizer

Methane Gas

Diverse Produce

• All year round: Fresh vegetables (1 cup per day per middle school

student) produced. Greenhouse heats biodigestor → optimal conditions for

anaerobic bacteria; biogas used for cooking.

• During the winter Biodigestor operates at a lower temperature; biogas

used to power heater that keeps greenhouse warm enough to enable extended growing season.

Technological Feasibility

Heat=(Surface Area of Greenhouse [ft 2])( 1.2 Btuhr °F

)∗(Temperature Gradient [°F ])

- Average minimum temperature in January in La Vaquita = 43°F- Ideal temperature of greenhouse = 60°F=> 5580 Btu required per hour to heat greenhouse during cold periods- Biogas providing 40,000 Btu/day could heat greenhouse for 7 hours/day

Our Solution: the Model

Small-scale farmersStudents

Education Technological training

Educational Biodigester-Greenhouses

Implementation of low-cost technologies

Improvement of crop yieldsCrop diversification

Community construction of biodigester-greenhouses near secondary schools.

• Community outreach and planning

• Initial prototype of low-cost greenhouse and biodigester

• Evaluation• Design and prototyping of

greenhouse heating system• Reevaluation• Implementation in target

communities

Current Stage of Project