(Finance) – Il ENEA Casaccia Research Center he made a hi-tech containers to cultivate in space microgreens such as radish and savoy cabbage. The innovation, developed within the MICROx2 project financed byItalian Space Agencywill be presented on the occasion of 4th National Space Day (December 16).
The project, in which they participate ENEA, Cnr and the universities of Rome Tor Vergata and “Federico II” of Naplesthe latter in the role of coordinator, aims to achieve bioregenerative systems for the production of fresh food high in phytonutrientsfor life support of astronauts on long-duration missions. The aim of the research, in addition to producing food to guarantee the crew a balanced diet from a nutritional and quality and food safety point of view, is also to maximize the use of limited resources in space and optimize production yields.
For the innovative “space” cultivation plant, ENEA has developed irrigation and LED lighting systemscontrolled through a smart system for diagnostics non-destructive and real-time monitoring of the health and growth of plants and environmental parameters, such as humidity, temperature and CO2 concentration.
“Continuing research into the cultivation of fresh food for space is essential both to improve the quality of life of astronauts and to contribute to the sustainability of missions, reducing the dependence on constant supplies from Earth”, he comments Luca NardiENEA researcher at the Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory.
The personnel employed at the ENEA Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory has been active for over 10 years in development of “soilless” cultivation methodologies (hydroponics and aeroponics) for vertical farming, the valorisation of latest generation protected crops and innovative technologies for agrospace for life support in extreme environments. The Laboratory is engaged in the research and development of innovative solutions for agriculture 4.0aiming at the agro-ecological and digital transition of agricultural businesses, the protection of agroecosystems, the increase in resilience to climate change and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, with benefits in terms of reduction of production inputs and greenhouse gas emissions . The Laboratory also promotes the development of new models of phytosanitary defense.
Some of the innovative solutions and prototypes created by ENEA in the agrospace sector will be on display at the New Space Economy Expoforum (Fiera di Roma, 16 – 18 December 2024).
Established by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to raise awareness among Italian citizens of the contributions that space research can bring to scientific and technological progress, National Space Day occurs every year on 16 December to commemorate the launch in 1964 of the first Italian artificial satellite, the Saint Mark 1.