Ideas sought for growing food in outer space

Space agency looking for innovative solutions from public

Growing food in space and growing food in the North have some things in common. Agricultural efforts in both have to endure harsh climates and maximize energy efficiency, for example. Those similarities are one of the reasons behind a public challenge issued by the governments of Canada and the United States to the people of both countries for ways to grow food in space.

Clélia Cothier, Challenge-prize Fellow for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), told Saltwire Network the Deep Space Food Challenge is a joint effort by NASA and the CSA to create food-production technology that requires few materials and little energy for long-duration space missions, as well as helping people on Earth.

“If we can grow food on the surface of the moon it’s likely we can grow that no problem in a snowbank in northern Canada,” Cothier said.

The parallels between growing in space, urban centres and the North are many, she said, including technical aspects such as energy efficiency, but also things like working together.

The challenge, open to all individuals and many organizations in both countries, is looking for designs for advanced food-production technology concepts, has prizes up to $380,000 for finalists and has three phases. Cothier said it’s important to leave it open to suggestions from all quarters.

“It’s very open. We’re looking for solutions from anyone for innovative and out-of-the-box thinking,” she said.

Encouraging people to bring solutions forward can help public discourse, she said, and encourages innovation.

A jury was picked earlier this year to determine which projects move to the next stage. It includes such well-known names as astronaut Chris Hadfield and celebrity chef Lynn Crawford, as well as a range of people from a variety of backgrounds. Cothier said when the jury was chosen it was important to have a diverse range of people.

“We wanted to make sure to represent various perspectives, whether it was in terms of technical expertise, experts in food safety, experts in controlled environments, agriculture in space, food, we went for a range. Even an astronaut and a chef, for their technical perspectives, but also the perspectives (on) how these potential solutions are going to be applicable for Earth.”

Cothier said they made sure the people selected for the jury would reflect the diversity of perspectives that would build excellence in that topic.

One of the people selected for that jury is Lynn Blackwood, a foodsecurity policy analyst with the Nunatsiavut Government. Blackwood said she’s excited to be part of the challenge and was surprised when they contacted her to see if she was interested.

Blackwood, who has a background as a dietician, has worked in food security for most of her career. The parallels between growing food in the North and in space are obvious once you think of them, she said, but prior to this project she hadn’t thought much about it.

“I can definitely see how technology that would provide opportunities to grow food with the least amount of resources could potentially provide ideas and ways to provide food in the North,” she said.

Blackwood said the idea of food production, such as gardens, is a relatively new one in the North and is fairly limited by a few factors, including sunlight and the cost of getting materials such as soil.

“If we could come up with ideas to have the least amount of resources and have the greatest impact, the best bang for your buck, if you will, I think that’s pretty neat,” Blackwood said.

Food security is a big priority for the Nunatsiavut Government, she said, and she’s excited to see what comes out of the challenge.

The deadline for Phase 1 of the challenge is July 30.