Using Beer to Grow Crops in Martian and Lunar Soil

The Future of Space Agriculture

At Starbase Brewing, our mission is to become the first brewery on Mars, blending the art of craft beer with cutting-edge space science. In partnership with Texas A&M University, we've launched groundbreaking experiments to turn brewery byproducts into vital resources for extraterrestrial farming. Our first scientific mission explores how Brewer's Spent Grains (BSG)—a nutrient-rich waste from beer production—can amend lunar and Martian regolith to boost crop viability. This innovative approach not only repurposes brewing waste but also paves the way for sustainable food production on other worlds.

Imagine colonists on Mars enjoying fresh greens grown in soil enhanced by the same grains used to brew your favorite Starbase beer. This experiment highlights the synergy between the beverage industry and space exploration, showing how everyday brewing processes can support human settlement beyond Earth.

The BSG Amendment Experiment: Enhancing Regolith for Plant Growth

Experiment Design and Methodology

Collaborating with experts at Texas A&M, we mixed varying concentrations of Brewer's Spent Grains (BSG) into simulated lunar and Martian regolith. These simulants mimic the harsh, nutrient-poor soils found on the Moon and Mars, which are typically inhospitable for plant life due to high metal content and lack of organic matter.

Our initial focus was on Brassica oleracea (collard greens), a known hyperaccumulator plant capable of absorbing heavy metals from the soil. Hyperaccumulators like collard greens play a crucial role in space agriculture by potentially detoxifying regolith while providing edible biomass.

• BSG Concentrations Tested: We incrementally increased BSG levels in the regolith mixtures.
• Growth Trials: Plants were grown in controlled environments, with regular watering to simulate leaching and weathering processes.
• Key Observations:
  • Watering led to a "weathering" effect, where minerals leached out, improving soil conditions over time.
  • Biological alterations occurred as plant roots interacted with and modified the simulants, enhancing nutrient availability.

Results: Improved Growth with BSG Amendments

The data was clear: Higher BSG concentrations significantly improved plant growth compared to unamended lunar and Martian simulants. Collard greens exhibited:

• Enhanced Viability: Taller plants, healthier leaves, and better root development.
• Time-Dependent Improvements: Growth accelerated over the trial period, attributed to ongoing leaching and root-induced changes in the soil structure.
• Hyperaccumulation Insights: Analysis of burned plant material revealed pure (zero-valent) metals like copper and aluminum, as well as plant-synthesized alloys. This suggests collard greens could help manage toxic metals in regolith, making it safer for future crops.

These findings underscore BSG's potential as a natural soil amendment, turning brewery waste into a lifeline for Mars farming.

Expanding to Variety Trials: Testing Diverse Crops in Space-Like Soils

Building on the success of the BSG experiment, we conducted a larger variety trial to evaluate multiple plant species in unmodified lunar and Martian simulants, standard potting media, and terrestrial soil. The goal was to assess nutritional value and heavy metal uptake, inspired by intriguing results from the initial BSG tests.

Plants Tested in the Variety Trial

We selected a diverse array of crops suitable for space missions, focusing on nutritional density, edibility, and resilience:

Standout Performer: Grain Amaranth

Amaranth emerged as a star in the trials, showing exceptional growth and adaptability in harsh simulants. Its entire plant is edible — leaves, stems, and seeds — making it an ideal crop for resource-limited environments like Mars. We advanced amaranth to BSG-amended regolith trials to explore:

• Metal Uptake Variations: How BSG influences metal release from simulants and affects amaranth's hyperaccumulation.
• Synergistic Benefits: Combining amaranth's resilience with BSG's nutrients for optimized space agriculture.
• Comparison to Mustard: While mustard family plants (like collards) excel as hyperaccumulators, amaranth's full edibility offers broader applications.

Results indicated that BSG not only boosts growth but may also modulate metal bioavailability, reducing toxicity while maintaining plant health.

Implications for Mars Colonization and Sustainable Brewing

This mission demonstrates how Starbase Brewing is at the forefront of innovative space science. By repurposing Brewer's Spent Grains, we're addressing key challenges in Martian agriculture:

• Soil Remediation: BSG amendments could transform inert regolith into fertile ground.
• Resource Recycling: Turning brewery waste into a space asset aligns with our goal of brewing the first beer on Mars.
• Hyperaccumulator Potential: Plants like collard greens and amaranth could extract valuable metals, supporting in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for construction or manufacturing.

As we continue these experiments, we're aim to continue cultivating a sustainable future where beer and exploration go hand in hand.