The research trial, which will aim to discover the trick to delivering large quantities of high quality food crops and vegetables in microgravity, is scheduled for take-off to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of 2015, and will have the scientific and financial sponsorship of BASF.
While under normal growing conditions on Earth is is possible to use cuttings from one plant to reproduce it, it is thought that the process relies on the roots growing with the flow of gravity and leaves growing towards the sun.
The food and agriculture giant is now backing a project that will see three students from Edith Stein School in Ravensburg, Germany test whether cuttings can grow their own root system without gravity to guide them – a test which if successful would provide a major step forward in the effort to supply long-term space flights, such as those to Mars, with a source of food.
“We are excited about this project and about working with forward-thinking young people who strive for groundbreaking ideas and innovation,” said Dr Harald Rang, Senior Vice President of Research & Development at BASF Crop Protection. “It has been a thrilling challenge to investigate what could come next and how to achieve the ultimate goal of growing and reproducing plants on a space station.”
‘Appropriate’ trial design
To ensure the success of the experiment, the student research team is currently developing an appropriate experimental design to be used on the ISS.
BASF said it is providing knowledge on how to keep the plants healthy and free from fungal disease during the foreseen 30 days in the ISS environment.
As part of the backing of the project, the students will complete an internship with experts at the BASF Agricultural Center in Limburgerhof, Germany, before conducting trials at Kennedy Space Center laboratories in Florida.