Food and Agriculture in Space

Cultivating Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production

Overview

Facing the complex issues of global change, including demographic and climate change, the challenge remains to maintain a sustainable agricultural and food production system. Advanced technologies are essential in enabling the industry to increase efficiency in production, while limiting the global impact on the environment. Through developments in agriculture and food processing, the agri-food industry is responding to these challenges with increased digitalisation and the uptake of advanced technologies. Consequently, it is proposed that the ‘farming-as-usual approach’ should be replaced by a green revolution generating sustainable increases in crop production, using a range of techniques that minimize the use of external inputs, as well as being able to cope with weather extremes that are increasingly associated with climate change, thereby enhancing their resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Food & Agriculture Applications

Seeds

Plant Nutrition and Health

Crop Management and Monitoring

Indoor Agriculture / Vertical Farming

Cultured Meats/ Plant Based Meats

Food Product Behaviour

Manufacturing and Formulation

Packaging

Why Space for Food and Agriculture in Space

As Earth’s resources are stretched to their limits, the next big leap in agriculture may come from above—specifically, from space. The unique environment of space offers extraordinary opportunities to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and resilience. Here’s how space is set to revolutionize the food and agriculture sectors.

Space provides a microgravity environment that can lead to significant agricultural breakthroughs. Research on the International Space Station (ISS) has shown that plants grow differently in microgravity, offering new insights into optimizing crop yields under stress conditions like drought and disease. For instance, ISS research contributed to a 15% improvement in drought resistance in crops like wheat and soybeans.
Precision agriculture is advanced through space-based monitoring systems. Satellites like those supported by Airbus Bartolomeo provide real-time data on soil health and crop conditions. These insights help farmers optimize water use, reduce waste, and improve yields by up to 25%. Space-based data is critical in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of global food production.

Space-based research isn’t just about scientific curiosity; it’s also a lucrative market. Companies can leverage microgravity for R&D, creating seeds and biotechnologies tailored for extreme conditions. The global market for space-based agricultural innovations is projected to exceed $5 billion by 2030, driven by the demand for more resilient crops and sustainable farming practices.
ESA’s Sustainable Agriculture and Food Accelerator has proven the value of space-based initiatives, securing over €3 million in non-ESA funding to drive innovation in agriculture. These collaborations are essential for translating space research into practical solutions on Earth, offering significant commercial returns.

Investing in space-based agriculture isn’t just about exploring new frontiers—it’s about ensuring food security on Earth. With potential yield improvements of up to 25% and the ability to develop crops that can withstand harsh conditions, the future of agriculture is looking up. Space Commerce Matters (SCM) is at the forefront of this revolution, helping companies harness the power of space for agricultural innovation.
Explore how space can transform your agricultural practices. Contact us today to discover the commercial opportunities waiting in the stars.