Recent research into this subject, supported by university studies and a specific series of works, has drawn attention back to the issue of growing crops in alternative environments, based on the principles of space farming.       

The idea of growing potatoes on Mars actually caught researchers’ attention a few years ago. This subject was already extensively tackled several years ago by a team of researchers from the faculty of engineering at the University of Lima (Peru) who, by working together with NASA, trialled the possibility of alternative plantations, including on Mars. The goal was to grow potatoes in soil reconstructed in a laboratory to replicate the extreme conditions of the Red Planet.

Mars is definitely not a hospitable environment for farming: the temperatures are extremely cold, the atmospheric pressure is low and the soil is lacking in the nutrients required for plants. However, thanks to their painstaking work, the Peruvian researchers recreated the characteristics of soil on Mars in their laboratory, including the temperature, pressure and atmospheric composition, seeking to get as close as possible to the actual conditions on the planet.

Surprisingly, the results were promising. The potatoes, selected for their resistance and adaptability, showed some growth, which bodes well for space farming. More recently, further developments in research have rekindled interest in growing potatoes on Mars. This study does not just explore the possibility of producing food in space, but also has major implications for farming here on Earth. According to Stefania De Pascale, an expert in space farming, studying crops on Mars could teach us how to use natural resources better here on Earth. In fact, space farming requires extremely efficient use of water, energy and nutrients, all factors that could improve farming practices here too.

The possibility of growing crops on Mars is not just limited to food production, but it also has profound implications for human exploration of the planet. If we manage to make farming viable, astronauts could have fresh food directly on Mars, therefore reducing the need for expensive supplies from Earth. As they are rich in carbohydrates and relatively simple to grow, potatoes are one of the best options for this type of project.

The experiment by NASA and the University of Lima is just one of the first steps to possible food self-sufficiency in space. Even though the road is still long and complicated, any progress brings us closer to the idea of colonising other planets, opening up new frontiers for humankind.

With constant developments in research and technology, growing our food in extraterrestrial environments could become reality and also help with more sustainable management of resources on Earth.