Grow
Biomimetic substrates for jumpstarting native reefs — the natural solution for coastal protection.
PRODUCT: GROW CONCRETE, after one year
LOCATION: MUSEUM OF UNDERWATER ART, FLReefs
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Our coastlines are collapsing, along with valuable human infrastructure.
Long before seawalls and riprap, reefs — now in decline by over 50% — protected shorelines by reducing wave energy, filtering water, sequestering carbon, and creating living habitats that supported entire ecosystems. Our products work with reef-building organisms to rebuild this coastal defense infrastructure.
[ PROBLEM & SOLUTION ]■
[ SUPPORTED BY ]
Coastal Protection
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Ecosystem Restoration
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Water Purification
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Habitat Restoration
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Alkalinity Enhancement
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Carbon Capture
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Sustainable Aquaculture
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Blue Carbon Credits
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Biodiversity Enhancement
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Wetland Restoration
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Coastal Protection + Ecosystem Restoration + Water Purification + Habitat Restoration + Alkalinity Enhancement + Carbon Capture + Sustainable Aquaculture + Blue Carbon Credits + Biodiversity Enhancement + Wetland Restoration +
[ OUR TECHNOLOGY ]
Featured Products
GRoW_Reef Tile
as described in US Patent No. 11,598,879
+ modular artificial substrate unit for inter-tidal and sub-tidal reef construction
+ made with GRoW_Concrete™
+ stable substrate supporting the recruitment and survival of embryonic oysters, mussels and other calcitic reef-building organisms
+ serves as a surrogate until oysters are well established
+ serves as a catalyst for oysters to bridge between substrate units
+ promotes species health
+ includes space for integrated seagrass planting enhancing shoreline retention & carbon capture
+ can be arranged in clusters to establish extensive reef-scapes
Results
(testing by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science)
+ 50 –100 oysters attach per tile, by natural catch, in the first season
+ CFD modeling shows 85% wave reduction capacity in a multi unit clustered layout
+ grows a larger oyster in the first year
+ additional growth of oyster upon oyster in subsequent generations
Impact
+ shoreline protection, sediment control, water quality improvement, alkalinity enhancement, and biodiversity uplift
+ provides immediate habitat and shade for fish and other non-reef building species
+ carbon sequestration, nutrient reduction and species regeneration credits attainable
Specification
+ typical size: 12" x 12" x 8"(h) / 30 cm x 30 cm x 20 cm
+ weight: 30 - 52lbs, +/-14kg
+ other sizes available upon request
GRoW_Reef Disk
as described in US Patent No. 11,598,879
+ three different surface variations - others available on request
+ made with GRoW_Concrete ™
+ ideal for spat collection, oyster gardening and research
+ can be seeded with embryonic oysters and inserted into nooks and crannies between large rocks, turning unproductive rip rap / rock armor into a living reef
+ can be connected to ropes and hung off docks, piers or buoys
+ attractive to oysters, corals, mussels and other species
+ reusable
+ tested by MIT, in Boston Harbor, University of Maryland, in Baltimore Harbor, and University of Florida, on the Gulf coast.
Results
+ 100% surface coverage within one year by natural catch
+ 3 layers of mussels or 2 layers of oysters in first year of testing
Impact
+ the use of reef disks as an affordable top dressing could transform +/- 70,000 miles of existing rip rap revetments into living shorelines
+ reef disks’ calcium carbonate content provides alkalinity enhancement, increasing the ability of the sea to absorb and store carbon dioxide
+ approximately 1/3rd of the world’s coastlines are hardened with rip rap / rock armor, hybrid reefs created by inserting reef disks seeded with baby oysters and inserted into the nooks and crannies of rip rap/rock armor require less maintenance potentially reducing life-cycle costs by up to 30%
Specification
+ typical Size: 5" (h) x 4" (d) with a 1" diameter hole.
+ weight: +/- 5 Lbs.
+ other sizes available upon request
GRoW_Concrete
as described in US Patent No.11,598,879
+ patented marine grade concrete formulated to match the oyster shell or coral skeleton, tailored to match specific species
+ provides early stage nutrition to the growing species
+ the formula mimics a mature reef, sending out chemical cues to attract oyster embryos and other beneficial species
+ pH of 8.2 supports oysters, mussels, corals and serpulids
+ all natural ingredients
+ no admixtures
+ works as a casting and 3D printing concrete
+ bagged or ready mix formulas
+ licensing available
Results
+ testing by VIMS shows faster species growth in year one
+ testing by MIT proves GRoW concrete matches the strength and durability of off-the-shelf marine grade concrete
Impact
+ enhances ocean alkalinity
+ builds healthy, robust shells or skeletons for longer life
+ increases biodiversity
Oysters
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Mussels
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Tube Worms
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Kelp
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Stony Corals
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Cold Water Corals
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Warm Water Corals
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Seagrasses
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Oysters + Mussels + Tube Worms + Kelp + Stony Corals + Cold Water Corals + Warm Water Corals + Seagrasses +
2000+ units deployed
Gulf Coast + Eastern Seaboard
Chesapeake Bay
California Coast
Founder, Inventor, CEO
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Evelyn Tickle
Evelyn holds a Master of Architecture from SCI-Arc and holds a Rome Prize in Architecture from the American Academy in Rome. Her work has been recognized by MIT Solve, the RISE Innovation Fellowship, and the Biomimicry Institute's Ray of Hope Prize, and she was named USGBC-California's Net-Zero Trailblazer in 2024.
Evelyn is the inventor of our patented calcium carbonate–rich biophilic concrete formula and reef restoration products, and has led our deployments in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay, along the northeastern U.S. seaboard, and on the south coast of the UK.
An internationally recognized leader in coastal resilience and aquatic ecosystem restoration, she brings more than twenty years of expertise in biomimetic design and concrete fabrication to the challenge of large-scale shoreline protection.
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