Nanoracks is pioneering orbital greenhouses to develop ultra-resilient crops that thrive in Earth's harshest environments, addressing the looming food crisis fueled by climate change.
Humans have maintained a continuous presence in space for just over two decades, and from the start, scientists have explored growing food suitable for space consumption. Nanoracks, however, is taking a groundbreaking approach: using space to cultivate crops that benefit Earth’s population.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Nanoracks has signed a contract with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to establish a space-based agricultural research center in the United Arab Emirates: the StarLab Space Farming Center. The initiative aims to grow plants in space to enhance their resilience, enabling cultivation in Earth's most arid regions.
As Jeffrey Manber, CEO and co-founder of Nanoracks, explains, this builds on established research demonstrating that unique mutations in plant DNA occur in microgravity. These mutations can yield new, hardier crop varieties.
China has led in this field for years; its second-most popular wheat variety, Luyuan 502, was developed through space breeding.
“Space-induced DNA mutations have produced varieties with higher yields, improved nutrition, better disease resistance, reduced water needs, and greater heat tolerance,” says Professor Liu Luxiang of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, in comments to Space.com.
China continues heavy investment in plant breeding to secure its food supply for the future.
The UAE seeks greater food independence, as only 5% of its land is arable due to arid conditions and water scarcity, forcing it to import about 80% of its food. The goal is resilient plants suited to this environment.
“Research on food production in space's extreme conditions could unlock solutions for desert and arid climates. That’s why we’re partnering with Nanoracks,” an ADIO spokesperson stated.
Initial tests will involve sending plant species to the International Space Station, followed by autonomous greenhouses within five years. The StarLab center will also develop robotic and automated systems for these "space greenhouses."
