Plants for Space: Farming on the Moon and Beyond
In this session, Dr. Frazer Thorpe, a chief storyteller for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S), discusses the critical mission of growing plants beyond Earth. He explains how sustainable orbital farming is essential for long-term lunar settlements and future three-year round trips to Mars. Dr. Frazer Thorpe explores how scientists are reimagining agriculture to sustain human life in space, from vertical farms on the Moon to 3D-printed future foods.
[00:00:27] Plants for Space (P4S) is a global research initiative involving Australian and international universities, NASA, and the Australian Space Agency. Their mission is to understand how to grow food in the challenging conditions of space and apply that knowledge to sustainable farming here on Earth.
The LEAF Project: Landing Plants on the Moon
[00:01:26] Within the next few years, NASA and P4S will land a module on the Moon as part of the LEAF project. Astronauts will germinate seeds directly on the lunar surface to see how reduced gravity and radiation influence growth compared to Earth.
[00:01:55] These plants will be brought back to Earth for comparison. Scientists want to know: Is it possible to grow them on the Moon? How much stress are they under? Does gravity influence their growth rate?
[00:18:01] The specific plants selected for these early missions include Arabidopsis thaliana (a simple scientific model), Brassica rapa (broccoli and kale family), and Wolffia, an Australian native duckweed that is incredibly rich in protein.
Reimagining the Farm: Vertical Systems
[00:03:25] Space farming requires synthetic, enclosed environments where every aspect of growth—gas, water, and light—is controlled. P4S uses vertical farms to stack plants on shelves, making efficient use of a small footprint.
[00:06:53] Engineering these systems is difficult. In reduced gravity, water sticks tightly to plant roots, making it hard for them to “breathe” or absorb nutrients. Scientists are investigating hydroponics and selective breeding to create plants better suited for these conditions.
[00:07:44] Beyond basic growth, we must design the space kitchen. Will we eat raw vegetables, or can we use 3D food printers to create novel textures and future food products?
Combating “Menu Fatigue”
[00:04:16] Current space food often consists of dehydrated packets. On a three-year round trip to Mars, astronauts suffer from “menu fatigue,” where they may stop eating despite needing the calories. Fresh plants provide vital nutrients, fiber, and psychological joy.
[00:11:12] Researchers are even looking at using “wasted” plant parts, like tomato stems and leaves, to create precursors for bioplastics or grounding them down for supplemental nutrition.
Meet the Researchers
[00:14:53] The Plants for Space (P4S) team is tackling diverse problems across various Australian university nodes:
- Lydia Morat (University of Melbourne): Specializes in food processing and texture, extracting proteins from watercress to create “cheese” and turning floppy lettuce leaves into “crackers” with a delightful snap.
- Professor Jenny Mortimer (University of Adelaide): Investigates how Australian native duckweed (Wolffia) grows in microgravity and is working to breed it to be tastier and more nutritionally complete for lunar missions.
- Professor Ryan Lister (University of Western Australia): Explores plant biotechnology to “switch on” specific biological functions, allowing plants to produce essential medicines or precursors for bioplastics exactly when astronauts need them.
Classroom Connection: Simulating Space
[00:25:17] Students can emulate this work by building clinostats—3D-printed devices that rotate plants slowly to simulate microgravity. Classrooms can also test hydroponic or aquaponic systems to understand how nutrients flow without soil.
[00:34:14] Dr. Thorpe challenges students to think “plant-centric” for the AVA challenge: select a plant (perhaps one indigenous to your local community) and design a habitat that provides exactly what it needs to thrive.
Home » Articles »