KitaMandala

About the team

Sarvesh Prabhu studies entomology and environmental sciences at Cornell, serving as technical lead with insights from interactions with leaders in the alternative protein space including GFI, Upside Foods, and Liven Proteins, plus entomology research at ICRISAT. Rishita Ghosh, a biomedical engineering student at Syracuse University, leads economic and feasibility analysis, drawing from her extensive NGO project experience to evaluate financial viability and social impact considerations.

Our vision

Humanity faces a critical challenge in ensuring sustainable protein sources for long-term space exploration and future planetary colonization. Traditional protein options for astronauts are resource-intensive, requiring significant water, space, and energy, and are limited in supply due to storage constraints during extended missions. Furthermore, current methods of food production are unsuitable for the resource-scarce environments of space. Protein is essential for maintaining astronaut health, yet no proven, efficient system exists to produce it sustainably in extraterrestrial settings. This gap highlights the need for innovative solutions that are both cost-effective and resource-efficient. We envision a future where insect breeding addresses this challenge by providing a cheap, sustainable, and efficient protein source for space missions. Insects can recycle onboard organic waste, including human waste, into high-quality, nutrient-rich food in a closed-loop system. With minimal resource requirements and adaptability to microgravity, insect breeding offers the most effective solution to meet humanity’s protein needs.

Our solution

Our solution addresses the critical need for sustainable protein production in space by breeding Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae in microgravity. BSF larvae are highly efficient at converting organic waste into high-quality protein, making them an ideal candidate for a closed-loop system in space missions. In our approach, larvae are cultivated in controlled environments and then processed using techniques like drying, grinding, and defatting to produce nutrient-rich protein powders suitable for human consumption. This solution has multiple advantages. First, it provides a reliable and compact protein source for long-duration space missions, significantly reducing the need for traditional food supplies from Earth. Second, breeding BSF larvae in microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study how microgravity influences insect development, behavior, and evolution. Such insights could contribute to a deeper understanding of life sciences and adaptability in space. Furthermore, the efficiency of BSF larvae in converting waste to protein could help optimize protein production systems on Earth. Insights gained from their growth cycles and waste utilization could inform innovative agricultural practices, promoting circular economies and reducing food waste. Ultimately, this solution combines food security, scientific exploration, and agricultural sustainability, paving the way for resilient food systems in space and on Earth.