Mars Farming

Martian agriculture is an agricultural system known as "Underground Agrivoltaics," designed to address food security challenges on Earth and serve as a working prototype for the future colonization of Mars. It modifies traditional agriculture by relocating crop production to underground chambers, enabling food cultivation in areas with extreme climates or limited arable land. By decoupling agriculture from surface weather conditions, the system aims to provide a sustainable, hyperlocal food source that can sustain urban populations on Earth or astronauts in extraterrestrial habitats.

The system operates using a two-layer approach. It combines renewable energy generation with precision agriculture. On the surface, adjustable solar panels capture energy to power the facilities. Underground, crops are grown in vertical units using hydroponic or aeroponic methods. Natural sunlight does not reach these chambers, so the system uses specialized LED grow lights with specific spectra to enhance photosynthesis. An automated control system, prototyped with Arduino technology, manages this environment. It continuously monitors and adjusts key variables such as temperature, humidity, and soil moisture to promote optimal growth.

The system functions as a closed-loop ecosystem, designed for efficiency and isolation. It recycles essential resources like air and water. This creates a self-sufficient bubble, protected from external threats such as radiation, pests, and harsh weather. A high level of isolation is crucial for its dual mission: helping to prevent crop failures due to climate change on Earth and ensuring a safe and reliable food supply in the hostile and unbreathable atmosphere of Mars.

Moonshot team: Ankit Bid, Amrou Ghattas, Julian David Martinez Sanchez, Damien Pantalos, Santhosh Eashwar Subramani.

Mentor: Adriano Caprara.