diff --git a/data/converters.toml b/data/converters.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7d359d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/converters.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[[converter]]
+itemid = 3
+name = "teaConverter"
+displayName = "Tea Pulper"
+source = "tea"
+output = "brick"
+rate = 5
+
diff --git a/data/items.toml b/data/items.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d85c1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/items.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[[resource]]
+itemid = 1
+name = "tea"
+displayName = "Tea"
+buildable = true
+rate = 3
+
+[[resource]]
+itemid = 2
+name = "brick"
+displayName = "Tea Bricks"
diff --git a/data/tech.toml b/data/tech.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91f112a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/tech.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[[tech]]
+techid = 1
+name = "teaConverter"
+displayName = "Tea Pulper"
+unlocks = ["2"]
+require = []
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index eededdf..e0a00c6 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ require (
 )
 
 require (
+	github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/atotto/clipboard v0.1.4 // indirect
 	github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss v0.4.0 // indirect
 	github.com/containerd/console v1.0.3 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index b16df48..087a16e 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.1.0 h1:ksErzDEI1khOiGPgpwuI7x2ebx/uXQNw7xJpn9Eq1+I=
+github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.1.0/go.mod h1:CxXYINrC8qIiEnFrOxCa7Jy5BFHlXnUU2pbicEuybxQ=
 github.com/atotto/clipboard v0.1.4 h1:EH0zSVneZPSuFR11BlR9YppQTVDbh5+16AmcJi4g1z4=
 github.com/atotto/clipboard v0.1.4/go.mod h1:ZY9tmq7sm5xIbd9bOK4onWV4S6X0u6GY7Vn0Yu86PYI=
 github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles v0.10.3 h1:fKarbRaObLn/DCsZO4Y3vKCwRUzynQD9L+gGev1E/ho=
diff --git a/simulator/item_table.go b/simulator/item_table.go
index 711662d..7185bfd 100644
--- a/simulator/item_table.go
+++ b/simulator/item_table.go
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ const (
 //GlobalItemList of all items
 var GlobalItemList = []itemType{itemPlantTea, itemPlantWood, convertPulper}
 
-//GlobalTechList list of all techs
-var GlobalTechList = []Tech{techPulper}
-
 //Lookup returns a human friendly item entry
 func Lookup(id itemType) ItemEntry {
 	switch id {
@@ -40,13 +37,3 @@ func Lookup(id itemType) ItemEntry {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
-
-//LookupTech converts a tech ID to an item ID
-func LookupTech(id Tech) ItemEntry {
-	switch id {
-	case techPulper:
-		return converterEntry{convertPulper, 5, "teaConverter", itemPlantTea, itemPlantWood}
-	}
-	return nil
-
-}
diff --git a/simulator/player.go b/simulator/player.go
index 2abc7e3..9bf01db 100644
--- a/simulator/player.go
+++ b/simulator/player.go
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ import (
 //Player is a player controlled mob
 type Player struct {
 	Resources   map[itemType]int
-	Techs       map[Tech]struct{}
+	Craftables  map[itemType]struct{}
+	Techs       map[TechID]struct{}
 	CurrentTile *Tile
 	log         []string
 	logIndex    int
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ type Player struct {
 
 //NewPlayer initializes a player
 func NewPlayer() *Player {
-	return &Player{Resources: make(map[itemType]int), Techs: make(map[Tech]struct{})}
+	return &Player{Resources: make(map[itemType]int), Techs: make(map[TechID]struct{})}
 }
 
 func (p *Player) String() string {
diff --git a/simulator/science.go b/simulator/science.go
index 715103b..ed9c2fa 100644
--- a/simulator/science.go
+++ b/simulator/science.go
@@ -1,8 +1,62 @@
 package simulator
 
+import "github.com/BurntSushi/toml"
+
+//TechID is a tech level
+type TechID int
+
+type relation struct {
+	name  string
+	value int
+}
+
 //Tech is a tech level
-type Tech int
+type Tech struct {
+	ID          int        `toml:"techid"`
+	DisplayName string     `toml:"display_name"`
+	Name        string     `toml:"name"`
+	Requires    []relation `toml:"requires"`
+	Unlocks     []string   `toml:"unlocks"`
+}
 
 const (
-	techPulper Tech = iota
+	techPulper TechID = iota
 )
+
+//GlobalTechList list of all techs
+var GlobalTechList = []TechID{techPulper}
+
+//GlobalTechs list of all techs
+var GlobalTechs []Tech
+
+type techs struct {
+	tech []Tech
+}
+
+//LookupTech converts a tech ID to an item ID
+func LookupTech(id TechID) ItemEntry {
+	switch id {
+	case techPulper:
+		return converterEntry{convertPulper, 5, "teaConverter", itemPlantTea, itemPlantWood}
+	}
+	return nil
+
+}
+
+func lookupTechByName(name string) Tech {
+	for _, v := range GlobalTechs {
+		if v.Name == name {
+			return v
+		}
+	}
+	return Tech{}
+}
+
+func loadTechs(filename string) {
+	var res techs
+	_, err := toml.DecodeFile(filename, &res)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	GlobalTechs = res.tech
+}
diff --git a/simulator/simulator.go b/simulator/simulator.go
index 6e3ee43..92a744b 100644
--- a/simulator/simulator.go
+++ b/simulator/simulator.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ type Simulator struct {
 func NewSimulator() *Simulator {
 	pod := newPod()
 	player := NewPlayer()
+	loadTechs("data/tech.toml")
 	pod.Place(newPlant(itemPlantTea), 4, 4)
 	pod.Tiles[0][0].User = player
 	player.Announce("Game started")