Grants and Contributions

Contribution agreement to Support the International Commission on Radiological Protection

Contribution agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to support the External Events Safety Section project

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.

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.

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.

Space Environment Canada is a consortium bringing together the CARISMA, TREx-ASI, AUTUMN, AUGO, SWAN, AuroraX, AuroraMAX, and Aurora Watch projects. This is a ground-based network of magnetometers, multi-spectral ASIs, single beam hyper-spectral riometers, additional specialized optical, radio, and magnetic instruments, and very mature data dissemination systems. The network spans most of Canada, and captures multi-scale processes and structures with scale sizes ranging from kilometers to thousands of kilometers. This project is a collaboration between the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and Athabasca University.

GLOBExCHANGE 2023

First Nations Technical Review Committee to finalize the project selection process - Indigenous Leadership Initiative

Improving Greater Sage-Grouse habitat in Alberta by burying above-ground powerlines