Key Takeaways
- The grand prize for the Canadian Deep Space Food Challenge goes to the CANGrow system, co-developed by Ecoation and Maia Farms.
- CANGrow produces fresh foods and mycelium-derived protein, addressing astronauts’ nutritional needs on long missions.
- The NASA Deep Space Food Challenge winner will be announced in August after simulation testing at NASA’s Starlab Ground Lab.
Innovative Solutions for Space Nutrition
The Canadian edition of the Deep Space Food Challenge has announced the CANGrow food production system as its grand prize winner. This innovative system is a collaboration between Ecoation and Maia Farms and is designed to meet the nutritional demands of astronauts on extended missions.
CANGrow specializes in growing a variety of fresh produce, such as strawberries and cherry tomatoes, while also producing protein derived from mycelium through Maia Farms’ biomass fermentation technology. The Canadian Space Agency has awarded the creators of CANGrow $380,000 as part of the honor.
Over the past three years, numerous semifinalists and finalists have presented diverse concepts for food generation, exploring ingredients such as algae, insects, and mycelium as primary protein sources. CANGrow stands out because of its dual capability to produce both fresh vegetables and plant-based proteins. This holistic approach ensures that astronauts have access to a complete range of nutrients during their extended time in space.
The CANGrow system features five growth chambers. Four chambers are dedicated to cultivating plants using LED lighting to enhance photosynthesis and a UV-treated hydroponic system that promotes efficient watering. The fifth chamber acts as a bioreactor for generating mycelium-derived protein through a specialized biomass fermentation process.
In a further demonstration of Canadian innovation, the CANGrow system incorporates accelerated composting technology from Lomi, a smart composting solution developed by the British Columbia-based startup Pela.
As the CANGrow system garners attention, interest also grows around the winner of the NASA/US edition of the Deep Space Food Challenge. The announcement for this category will be made in August after the participants complete simulation training in NASA’s Starlab Ground Lab, set to occur this summer.
This competition highlights the potential for innovative food systems that can operate effectively in space, catering to astronauts’ dietary requirements and paving the way for longer missions beyond Earth.
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