Grants and Contributions

For long duration missions in space, food recycling is a mission-critical problem. Our technology uses black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and microbiota to compost organic material within an automated system, producing nutrient-rich compost, animal protein, fertile insect excrement, heat, and carbon dioxide. These outputs can be utilized within other food-producing systems: the compost and frass as fertilizer, the heat and carbon dioxide within the plant-growing process, and the insects for livestock (or human) consumption.

The AlgaSpace cultivation system harnesses the power of microalgae to deliver a sustainable nutrient-rich food supply. It leverages biofilm-based growth for high-density, low-water cultivation of a programmable microalgae to produce foods with different nutrient profiles, flavours and textures including smoothies, pastes, pastas and flakes. The platform not only produces a nutritious food supply but it can also use waste from urination, digestion and respiration as feedstocks for bioproduction thereby closing a sustainability loop necessary for prolonged travel or operations in space.

Our food technology is centered around a yeast strain that is specially adapted to the space environment (AstroYeast). The yeast acts as a chassis to produce the nutrients crew members will need for their long voyage to our celestial neighbours, combined with flavour molecules that enhance the dining experience. The production of these nutrients and flavour molecules is performed in an automated and optimized bioreactor system. The end product is a delicious and nutritious yeast spread which can be safely consumed.

CANGrow is a novel modular polyculture indoor food production system that will enable long term space exploration. The CANGrow system incorporates novel technologies in order to offer the widest possible variety of foods with optimal yield. It grows a diversity of biologically efficient food products: strawberries, cherry tomatoes, two root vegetables, microgreens, four unique culinary herbs, mini-head lettuce, an algae superfood, and a mycelial meat substitute - “space bacon”. The technology has the potential to provide over 500kg of nutrient dense food annually.

The Cricket Rearing, Collection, and Transformation System (CRCTS) is designed to be a protein source for astronauts and humans in remote environments on Earth by growing and harvesting protein-rich crickets in a first-of-its-kind controlled environment. Starting with nothing but a few hundred eggs, the CRCTS can quickly support the growth of tens of thousands of crickets every month. The CRCTS uses advanced filters, UVC lamps, and vacuum systems to completely isolate the crickets from the human living environment, ensuring minimal contamination risk throughout all system operations.

InSpira PBR - part of YOUR Green Revolution. The InSpira PBR is novel and modular 6-vessel photobioreactor i.e. a bioreactor with an embedded light source to cultivate microalgae in cartridge vessels. It is coupled with a harvesting and processing unit to transform the culture output into an edible gel that can be consumed as-is or used as a flavouring and dietary supplement when added onto other food products. It will allow operators to produce food in harsh environmental conditions, both in outer space and on earth while minimizing space usage, energy inputs, and skills required.

We will use safe microbes to up-cycle human waste into feedstock for our platform organism Euglena gracilis. Euglena is a robust organism with an amazing nutrient profile that we are already using on earth in future food applications. Our solution is ideal because microbes have an ability to break-down human waste into feedstocks that can be transformed into food using Euglena. We will maximize our efficiency by taking advantage of Euglena’s photosynthetic capacity, and growing microbes in energy efficient bioreactors monitored and controlled by an autonomous AI system.

The “Canada GOOSE” is a controlled environment plant growth chamber designed to push the boundaries of high-density crop production yielding a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms complete with power and water supply. Exploiting uniquely Canadian controlled environment technology and expertise, this design innovates ways to achieve homogeneous conditions within a high-density production system. While meant to address the supply of fresh nutritious food for astronauts, the chamber could be installed in remote areas or harsh environments to improve food security around the world.

The algae rack system is used to cultivate highly nutritional microalgae for human consumption. It minimizes water and energy usage through its innovative design.

The team will test the effectiveness of artificial gravity (AG) and its combination with bike ergometer exercise on several musculoskeletal endpoints compared to controls and previous AG and non AG countermeasures. Findings will lead to a deeper understanding of microgravity-induced musculoskeletal changes.