System could one day be used on Mars to provide food for astronauts

Scientists at the University of Arizona have developed a greenhouse with a

Astronauts may have grown lettuce aboard the International Space Station, but astronauts on Mars will need more calorie-dense food to survive.

In the film ‘The Martian’, botanist Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, grows potatoes in order to survive on the red planet.

Now scientists have revealed they have already come up with a system that can produce sweet potatoes and strawberries in poor conditions, which could one day be used on Mars or the moon.

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Scientists have revealed they have already come up with a system that can produce sweet potatoes and strawberries in poor conditions, which could one day be used on the red planet. An image of the University of Arizona's Controlled Environment Agriculture Centre (CEAC) is pictured above

Their aim is to work out how to grow crops on planets without the rich soil and oxygen that we have on Earth, using a large aluminium-framed, plastic-covered cylinder.

The team of researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a prototype Martian and Lunar greenhouse called the Controlled Environment Agriculture Centre (CEAC) and are using it and its hydroponics system to grow food.

Hydroponics is the recirculation of plant fertiliser and water to grow plants in the absence of soil and is the driving force of the greenhouse.

Their aim is to work out how to grow crops on Mars and the moon using a large aluminium-framed, plastic-covered cylinder. They have already produced sweet potatoes (left) and strawberries (right) using hydroponics, which is the recirculation of plant fertiliser and water to grow plants in the absence of soil

The system yields 10 times the amount of crops as an open field, so the notion of feeding a crew of astronauts for hundreds Martian days is not a work of science fiction, according to researchers.

Hydroponics could also be used to feed the Earth’s growing population and boost global food security.

While in the film Watney engineers his own hydroponics system by recycling his own vacuum-sealed faeces to help grow potatoes, the greenhouse is more sophisticated, using a computer to provide the optimum air temperature, humidity, water, light and nutrients.

‘We have a wide array of sensors that monitor all of the environmental conditions in there,’ said Erica Hernandez of the university.

SPACE POTATOES IN 'THE MARTIAN' In Ridley Scott’s film, Mark Watney who is stranded on Mars, says: ‘So, I've got to figure out a way to grow three years' worth of food here - on a planet where nothing grows.’ The character, who is played by Matt Damon, engineers a way to grow potatoes on Mars, saying: ‘I am the greatest botanist on this planet.’ The Nasa crew lands on the Mars in November 2035, meaning the technology developed at the university would be ready to use by this time, making the possibility of growing food on Mars a reality. In the film ‘The Martian’, botanist Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, works out how to grow potatoes in order to survive on Mars. A promotional shot from the film, showing the character, is pictured above Gene Giacomelli, horticultural engineer and co-principal investigator and director of the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Centre read Andy Weir’s book upon which the film is based, and watched the movie. ‘It was particularly interesting when they began discussing what we do for our research,’ he said. There is one part where Watney states he can urinate directly onto the plants, saying: ‘The plants will take their share of water and the rest will condense on the walls.’ But Giacomelli said: ‘Major mistake! Water the plants with unprocessed urine, and the high salt content will kill them. ‘Plus, the plants need nitrate-nitrogen, which is two biological steps away from urea-nitrogen that dominates the urine.’ He said it is Watney's use of duct tape ‘that kept the potential reality alive for me. I know duct tape can do all.’ After getting past a few liberties the story takes in growing plants, Giacomelli said he ‘was finally converted to the possibilities of “The Martian.” I did really enjoy the book.' Advertisement

Growing vegetables in space is considered vital for providing fresh and nutritious meals for astronauts on future Nasa missions, including its planned manned mission to Mars. A concept 'greenhouse' is pictured

‘We have a controller that we can program and make changes to the day-to-day routine that the plants experience, and just being able to collect all of that data and really understand the behaviour of the system through that data is very interesting for me.’

The result is nearly 100 per cent harvestable quality food where there is no fear of unexpected diseases of food-borne illness pathogens being on food, because all the materials are known and controlled.

Gene Giacomelli, horticultural engineer and co-principal investigator and director of the CEAC said: ‘This (lunar and Martian) greenhouse is being supported by Nasa so that someday people will live and work on another planet.

‘When they do, they will need food,’ he said, remarking that it was ‘phenomenal to hear the challenges that Mr Watney had growing his crops [in the film The Martian].

'We had the exact same challenges,’ he added.