A Global Nexus for the Space Food Ecosystem

Food is one of the top technology shortfalls for long-duration space exploration – yet the history of exploration has demonstrated time and again that food is often the critical factor between mission success and failure.

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 for space exploration.

After final prizes were awarded in 2024, it was recognized that planning for the future food system must expand from a focus on food technologies to a food ecosystem. And, the need for a food systems roadmap that includes plans from production and safety to processing and storage, is critical to understanding the full span and complexities of the needs.

In short: the responsibility cannot lie with just one country, organization, or industry.

The Deep Space Food Consortium was established to continue the expansion of defining the future food system through bringing together the global community to connect opportunities across disciplines.

An agile organization with a global footprint that operates across a spectrum of food- and space-related disciplines and industries to accelerate opportunities in applied research, tech development, and demonstrations. We work to stimulate and guide sustainable space food system development for long-duration exploration and habitation, while impacting challenges here on Earth.

Who We Are

Vision

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.

Mission

To unify global space food research by building shared roadmaps, standards, and platforms to accelerate research and technology development, validation, and deployment.

Priority Areas

Pre-Packaged System Innovations
Space Crop Production Systems
Novel Food Production Technology
Processing and Preparation
Food Safety Monitoring and Detection
Technology Integration
Nutrition and Sensory Testing
Facility Setup and Operation
Data Analysis and Reporting
Human Health and Performance

Capabilities and Goals

Define Market and Identify Innovations

How We Contribute:
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 guide the establishment and development of a space food system
Prepare Innovations for Market

How We Contribute:
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
Bring Innovations to Market

How We Contribute:
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