Solar Foods joins Deep Space Food Consortium as Foundational Member

Solar Foods has joined the Deep Space Food Consortium as a foundational member. The consortium, established by the administrators and partners of the Deep Space Food Challenge organised by NASA and CSA, aims for the development and deployment of sustainable, evolvable space food systems that enable human exploration and habitation beyond Earth, while advancing resilient, efficient, and equitable food systems for life on Earth. The Solein production technology offers an attractive value add to space habitat operators through substantial reduction in resupply needs of food and especially water, in addition to providing a fresh source of nutritious protein onboard.

The Deep Space Food Consortium’s (DSFC) mission is to unify global space food research and development. The independent, technology-agnostic organization coordinates the emerging space food ecosystem, bringing together researchers, space agencies, food companies, technology developers, private space station companies, funders, and public sector partners to define shared priorities, identify implementation gaps, prioritize research and support the validation of food system technologies for both future low earth orbit and long-duration exploration missions.

“We are proud to join the Deep Space Food Consortium and to contribute to scientific advances that aim to help humanity produce food wherever people live, whether in the most challenging environments on Earth or, one day, beyond it. The fundamental question remains the same: How do we produce nutritious food when conventional agriculture is not an option. Space is the most demanding test environment, and the technologies operating there may also help build more resilient food systems here on Earth”, says Arttu Luukanen, SVP Space & Defence at Solar Foods.

“From early expeditions across the oceans, to the exploration of the polar regions, history has demonstrated time and again that food is often the critical factor between any mission’s success and failure – and space is no different. The future of food in space will define the future of humanity in space. We are pleased to welcome Solar Foods to the Consortium and look forward to exploring how their expertise and innovative approaches can contribute to the broader development of sustainable, resilient food systems”, says Angela Herblet, Co-Founder and Lead for Operations & Initiatives at the Deep Space Food Consortium.

In 2021, NASA released the Deep Space Food Challenge in coordination with the Canadian Space Agency to identify technologies that could potentially contribute to the future food system in support of deep space exploration. After final prizes were awarded, the Deep Space Food Consortium was established by the challenge administrators and partners to continue expanding the definition and development of the future food system by uniting the global community and connecting opportunities across disciplines.

Promising solution for future space explorers

In 2024, Solar Foods was selected by an extensive expert panel of judges as the international category winner of the Deep Space Food Challenge, strengthening the company’s position as a promising solution provider for future space explorers. The Solein production technology offers an attractive value add to space habitat operators through substantial reduction in resupply needs of food and especially water, in addition to providing a fresh source of nutritious protein onboard.

The company’s aim is to integrate the Solein fermentation technology with the onboard life support systems of future commercial space stations as well as future surface habitats on the Moon and eventually on Mars. Last year, Solar Foods signed a contract with OHB System AG, a major European space and technology company, on the development of a small-scale gas fermentation pilot with the aim of eventually testing the technology onboard the International Space Station. The project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and it aims to develop a prototype of the Solein production technology suitable for zero-gravity operations, accelerating Solar Foods’ development of its space food production technology. The contract with OHB was preceded by an open competition invitation to tender from ESA, where Solar Foods was identified as a mandatory subcontractor.

“Solein is produced through gas fermentation, using carbon dioxide and hydrogen as its main feedstock. In space habitats, oxygen is generated by splitting water molecules. While the oxygen is used by the crew, the hydrogen – and the CO2 exhaled by the crew – is typically vented into space, wasting valuable water. By feeding this hydrogen and the CO2 exhaled by astronauts on the spacecraft into Solar Foods’ process, the water can be recovered while producing Solein at the same time”, Luukanen says.

Deep Space Food Consortium is fiscally sponsored by the Methuselah Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization.

Additional information:

Arttu Luukanen, SVP, Space & Defence, arttu.luukanen@solarfoods.com, tel. +358 10 579 3287

Images for editorial use: www.solarfoods.com/media

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What is Solein?
Solein is an all-purpose protein grown with the air we breathe: The unique bioprocess takes a single microbe, one of the billion different ones found in nature, and grows it by fermenting it using air and electricity. Solein is a nutritionally rich and versatile ingredient which can replace protein virtually in any food. Solein can also be used as a fortifier to complement the nutritional profile of various foods: it can be a source of iron, fibre and B vitamins, and it can also bring different techno-functionalities into food products. Learn more at www.solein.com.

About Solar Foods
Solar Foods produces Solein®, a protein created using carbon dioxide and electricity. This innovative production method is independent of weather and climate conditions, eliminating the need for traditional agriculture. Founded in Finland in 2017, Solar Foods is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland. Learn more at solarfoods.com and investors.solarfoods.com.