Feeding the final frontier

Developing the future food systems needed to thrive on Earth and beyond

A global nexus for the space food ecosystem

The Deep Space Food Consortium is an independent, technology-agnostic organization that coordinates the emerging space food ecosystem. We bring together researchers, space agencies, food companies, technology developers, 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 provide a neutral platform where the field can align on evidence, compare approaches, and move from isolated projects toward integrated and validated space food system solutions. That same work reveals where space-driven research can contribute to terrestrial applications — helping build food systems that are more robust, resilient, efficient, and equitable here on Earth.

A Note from the Founders

From early ocean expeditions to polar exploration, history has demonstrated that food is often the critical factor between a mission's success and failure. Space is no different.

In 2021, NASA released the Deep Space Food Challenge in coordination with the Canadian Space Agency to identify technologies that could contribute to a future food system for deep space exploration. After we awarded the final prizes in 2024, we recognized that approaching the development of food systems through the lens of individual technologies was no longer effective.

The roadmap for the future food system must expand to include not just food production but also preparation and cooking, storage and waste management, and human factors and safety. The development of new technologies and approaches must broaden to engage new types of partners, driving innovation and accelerating development, testing, and deployment.

The responsibility cannot lie with just one country, organization, or industry.

The Deep Space Food Consortium was established by those who ran, competed in, championed, and supported the Challenge to continue the work across countries, organizations, and disciplines. What started as an effort to understand individual technologies has grown into a community of researchers, builders, and partners working to make these systems real.

The future of food in space will define the future of humanity in space. Let's build it together.

Foundational Members

Capabilities and Goals

  • LEAD

    Define Markets and Identify Innovations:

    Advocate & prioritize related research needs.

    Recruit expertise in applicable space and food related fields.

    Establish thought leadership through publications, engagements, and global partnerships.

    Standardize and guiding the establishment and development of a space food system.

  • CONNECT

    Prepare Innovations for Market:

    Network to identify people, places, and opportunities.

    Identify, vet and advocate for technologies and approaches.

    Encourage and support cross-discipline development of breakthrough R&D.

    Investigate methodologies and approaches to stay current on market directions and trends.

  • INTEGRATE

    Bring Innovations to Market:

    Foster collaboration to align and create impacts for space and Earth.

    Demonstrate viability of components within a system.

    Provide all-inclusive testing to validate and accelerate further development and application.

    Compare performance of competing and complimentary technologies.

Priority Areas

  • Pre-Packaged System Innovations

  • Production Technologies & Approaches

  • Processing, Preparation, & Storage

  • Risk Assessment, Safety, & Quality Control

  • Waste & Side-Stream Management

  • Human Health, Nutrition, & Performance

  • Environmental Climate & Life Support System Interfaces

  • Crew Interaction & Experience

  • Testbeds, Demonstrators, & Analogs

  • Data Analysis & Reporting

  • Technology & Systems Integration

  • Digital Twins & Simulation Models

Learn More

Programs

  • Demonstrators & Analogs

    Advance validation and reduce risk by aligning space food systems research and development with high-fidelity analog and demonstration environments that reflect mission-relevant operational constraints.

  • Digital Platforms & Models

    Support rigorous down-selection of food system concepts using digital twins and simulation platforms to validate performance, operational readiness, and mission fit across diverse use cases and conditions.

  • Prize Competitions & Crowdsourcing

    Deploy strategically aligned public challenge programs with government, industry, and academia to mobilize multidisciplinary food systems communities and accelerate innovation and technology maturation.

  • Catalyst & Enablement

    Accelerate space food systems from concept to flight by embedding scientific leadership and technical advisory support within collaborative research and technology programs.

Current Projects

  • Comprehensive Roadmaps

    Guide and inform R&D needed to get to the Moon, onto Mars, and everywhere in between.

  • Universal Analog Network

    Research institutions, analog facilities, and ground demonstrators support strategic planning, development, and demonstration of full food systems.

  • Digital Library

    Test outcomes, systems data, and simulation models are designed to enable faster iteration, informed choices, and mission-ready solutions grounded in real testing.

Core Team

Representing over five decades of combined experience across government, academia, and the public and private sectors, our team defines the Consortium’s purpose and sets strategic priorities across activities, projects, initiatives, and opportunities.

  • Dane Gobel

    Co-Founder
    Methuselah Foundation Co-Founder

    Allied Partner Lead, Deep Space Food Challenge

    Linkedin

  • Angela Herblet

    Co-Founder, Operations & Initiatives
    Former Deputy Program Manager, NASA Centennial Challenges

    NASA Lead, Deep Space Food Challenge

    Linkedin

  • Ralph Fritsche

    Co-Founder, Strategy & Development
    Retired NASA Exploration Food Systems Project Manager
    Head Judge, Deep Space Food Challenge

    Linkedin

  • Tor Blomqvist

    Co-Founder, Food Systems Architecture, Programmes & Policy
    Agronomist, Food Scientist, & Researcher, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
    Judge, Deep Space Food Challenge

    Linkedin

  • Annie Shelton

    Co-Founder, Science & Research

    Space Crop Production & Food Systems Researcher, PhD, MPS, BSc,
    University of Cambridge
    Former NASA Researcher
    Co-Lead, Team Nolux, Deep Space Food Challenge
    (U.S. Runner Up)

    Linkedin
  • Jacob Scoccimerra

    Jacob Scoccimerra

    Business Development
    Space programme strategist

    Founder, Monolith Space
    Former Space Program Lead, Interstellar Lab, Deep Space Food Challenge (U.S. Winner)

    Linkedin

  • Stephanie Wan

    Cross-Sector Opportunities
    Space Policy, International Business Development & Government Relations Specialist
    Space Policy & Partnerships Lead, Deep Space Food Challenge

    Linkedin

  • Nicholas Fiorenza

    Communications & Community
    Entrepreneur & Life-Sciences Ecosystem Builder
    Operations & Project Manager, Methuselah Foundation

    Linkedin

Council

The Council advises on what we work on and how. Members bring experience across NASA programs, life support systems, food science, hospitality and space tourism, and academic research.

  • Vickie Kloeris

    Vickie Kloeris

    Retired, NASA Food Scientist
    Past President, Institute of Food Technologists

    Linkedin
  • Ray Wheeler

    Ray Wheeler

    Retired NASA Researcher, Plant Physiologist

    Linkedin

  • Robyn Gatens

    Former Director of International Space Station and Commercial Space, NASA

    Linkedin

  • Michele Perchonok

    Former Human Research Program, Advanced Food Technology Project Manager, NASA

    Linkedin

  • John Hogan

    Life Support Systems Scientist, Former Chief of Bioengineering Branch, NASA

    Linkedin

  • Volker Hessel

    Professor at Adelaide University, CI & Program Lead at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space

    Linkedin

  • Jennifer Fogarty

    Chief Scientist, Center for Aerospace & Extreme Environments Medicine, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine

    Linkedin
  • Jess Bunchek

    Jess Bunchek

    Astrobotanist, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space - Adelaide University & German Aerospace Center (DLR); Former NASA scientist and Antarctica overwinterer

    Linkedin
  • Amy Gregory

    Amy Gregory

    Associate Professor & Endowed Chair Space Tourism, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida

    Linkedin

  • Charisse Grey

    Chef, Former Director of Research and Development, ThinkFoodGroup

    Linkedin

  • Flavia Fayet-Moore

    Founder & Chief Executive Officer, FOODiQ Global

    Linkedin
  • Julia Low

    Julia Low

    Co-Lead, Sensory and Consumer Science, RMIT University 

    Linkedin
  • Paul Gauthier

    Paul Gauthier

    Associate Professor, Department of Plant Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State University 

    Linkedin

  • Rafael Loureiro

    Associate Professor of Botany & Plant Physiology, Winston-Salem State University

    Linkedin

  • George Duran

    Chef, Author & Television Personality

    Linkedin

Advisors

Advisors lead and contribute to working groups in their areas of expertise.


  • Sam Chapple-Sokol

    Senior Editorial Director, Jose Andres Media, Editorial Director, World Central Kitchen

    Linkedin

  • Chef Hector Contreras

    R&D Chef, Jose Andres Group


    Linkedin

  • Jac Cottee

    Space Health & Performance Researcher, Institute for Space Health & Performance

    Linkedin

  • Madelyn MacRobbie

    Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

    Linkedin