Going to the Moon to Grow Food with Cellulose-based Media, Paper360º March/April 2025

Can cellulose be an important component of life ... on the Moon? In recent years, there have been increasing attempts to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. One of the critical challenges is ensuring a reliable food supply for astronauts. With extreme temperatures, reduced gravity, and high levels of radiation, the Moon presents a harsh environment for plant growth. The absence of an atmosphere and the presence of regolith, a layer of loose fragmented material covering solid rock, further complicates agricultural efforts.

Hydroponic cultivation is one technique widely suggested for Moon applications. In horticulture, growing media provide the plant roots with water, aeration, nutrients, and mechanical support during all stages of plant growth until the harvest. Hydroponics is a type of horticulture that involves cultivation without soil. In this technique, plant roots are exposed to nutrient-rich and aerated water instead of soil. The advantage of hydroponics is that it allows for precise control over nutrient delivery and water use—a critical factor in the resource-scarce conditions of the Moon.

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