Economic Impact of OpenFarmTech

Introduction

At present, we have prototypes of an open source tractor and a high performance Compressed Earth Block Press. The documentation for both is here: LifeTrac and CEB_Press. The documentation at present is sketchy, but full design documentation will be made available as we near official product release. Quick highlights of economics are:

• CEB press appears to be 5 times lower in cost than the competition, and larger models appear to be about 10 times less
• Base tractor is about 3 times lower in cost than a comparable commercial counterpart, and about 10 times lower in cost when flexible implements are considered
  • Lifetrac with PTO generator, loader, backhoe, hydraulic swingblade sawmill, well-drilling rig, auger, rototiller, tree planter, cement mixer, stump grinder, winch, hammer mill, hay equipment, baler, agricultural combine, mower - will be about $14k total in materials - compared to $160k for comparable functionality off the shelf
  • The above is achieved by using interchangeable parts and hydraulic motors, which constitute a life-size erector set or Lego block set for real technology
• Maintenance for the tractor - LifeTrac is designed to have about $200 per year operating and capital replacement costs, as opposed to $2000 for a comparable tractor.

Discussion

Ramifications of the above are that a small, integrated, organic farmer, agroecologist, permaculturist, or other land stewart can maintain a full, integrated operation without prohibitive equipment costs. Startup is impossible without reliable equipment - we have tried - and gotten to the point of building LifeTrac. LifeTrac is a post-industrial tractor, and we know from experience that we would not be able to reach our agroecological goals with industrial equipment - specialized, design-for-failure machines.

Now Here's the Good Part: Closing the Industrial Divide

The beautiful part of this work is that once metal casting, open source multimachine, and CNC XYZ torch cutting table are implemented - it will be feasible to build the tractor/implements/CEB infrastructure at the cost of scrap steel, if open design is available.

This means that a person in both the industrialized world, and the developing world, will be able to build high-appropriate technology devices. This is a program for technological leapfrogging, distributive economics, and closing of the industrial divide between the haves and have-nots.

Skill

The post-industrial economy requires high skill on the part of the worker. However, we believe that such skills are readily learned - just like mechanics, machinists, carpenters, and others learn similar skills. The skill set is more integrated, and needs to be taught from an earlier age. But, it's not more difficult - indeed, it is much easier than the specialized techniques widely in use today.