In the endless winter of Antarctica, a futuristic greenhouse is growing fresh food for scientists – and testing technologies that could one day feed astronauts on Mars.
Imagine craving a fresh salad while living on the Moon. Picture harvesting cucumbers while orbiting Mars. This is not science fiction—it is the very real research being conducted in one of the most extreme environments on Earth: Antarctica. In 2018, a special greenhouse near the German Neumayer Station III began a groundbreaking mission that could change how future space explorers eat. The EDEN ISS project did not just grow plants; it tested an entire ecosystem capable of supporting human life in the cosmos, producing over 268 kilograms of fresh, edible food in nine months during its first experimental phase. This is the story of how a container in the Antarctic desert is cultivating the future of space agriculture.
Food production is a critical challenge for long-duration space missions. Transporting all necessary food from Earth is enormously expensive and impractical for missions to the Moon or Mars. A greenhouse that can grow food reliably and independently is a vital component of any long-term space habitat 1 5 .
Testing technologies for future lunar and Martian habitats in Earth's most extreme environment.
Antarctica's isolated, harsh conditions provide the perfect analog for space outposts.
The EDEN ISS (Evolution & Design of Environmentally-closed Nutrition-sources) project was a European initiative to advance bio-regenerative life support systems . Its core was the Mobile Test Facility (MTF), a greenhouse built from two customized shipping containers and placed on a raised platform about 400 meters from the Neumayer Station III 1 3 . Antarctica was chosen as the test site because its isolated, extreme conditions provide a powerful analog for the challenges of a lunar or Martian outpost 1 . If the system could work here, it could work in space.
The EDEN ISS Mobile Test Facility was far more than a simple greenhouse. It was an almost entirely closed system where all resources—air, water, nutrients—were carefully managed and recycled 5 .
The main plant cultivation space, featuring multi-level growth racks in a perfectly controlled environment.
The heart of the operation, housing the control systems, atmosphere management, and nutrient delivery systems.
A buffer zone to prevent freezing Antarctic air from rushing into the controlled climate when the main door was opened.
An aeroponic system where plant roots were suspended in air and regularly misted with a fine, computer-controlled spray of water and nutrients, eliminating the need for soil 5 .
Removed excess heat generated by the lights and other systems.
Managed electrical energy transmitted from the Neumayer Station.
A network of sensors and programmable controllers that allowed the facility to be monitored and operated remotely from a mission control center in Bremen, Germany 1 .
The nominal operation phase ran from February 7 to November 20, 2018 1 . The first seeds were sown on February 7, and the first harvest of lettuce and leafy greens occurred on March 20 1 3 . The team cultivated 26 different crops on a cultivation area of just 12.5 m² 1 3 .
of edible food produced in just 9 months
Cultivation Area
Crop Types
Scientists Fed
| Crop Type | Edible Biomass (kg) |
|---|---|
| Cucumbers | 67 |
| Tomatoes | 50 |
| Lettuces | 56 |
| Leafy Greens | 49 |
| Kohlrabi | 19 |
| Herbs | 12 |
| Radish | 8 |
| Total | 268 |
| Cultivation Area | 12.5 m² |
| Experiment Duration | ~9 months |
| Total Edible Biomass | 268 kg |
| Yearly Productivity (normalized) | 27.4 kg/m² |
| Daily Productivity (normalized) | 0.075 kg/(m²*d) |
A key innovation of the EDEN ISS approach was the use of a "compromise climate." Instead of creating a separate, optimized environment for each crop, all plants were grown simultaneously under the same set of environmental conditions:
This is a more realistic scenario for a near-term space greenhouse, where system simplicity and reliability are paramount.
Growing plants in a closed system for space exploration requires a unique set of tools and solutions. The EDEN ISS greenhouse relied on several key technologies to function autonomously and efficiently.
Cultivated plants without soil by misting their roots with a nutrient solution, saving water and space while maximizing growth efficiency 5 .
The success of the 2018 experiment was measured not only in kilograms of food but also in its broader impact. The presence of the greenhouse had a profound psychological benefit for the overwintering crew. In the monotonous and confined environment of an Antarctic winter, the greenhouse became a cherished "oasis," providing a touch of nature and a dramatic improvement in food quality .
From a scientific perspective, the mission provided a wealth of data. Researchers collected over 400 plant and microbiological samples to study food safety and the microbial environment inside the closed system . They also meticulously tracked the resources required for operation, including crew time, energy, and nutrients—all critical data for designing future life support systems 6 .
"In subsequent years, this research continued to expand, with a NASA guest scientist even joining the project to test plant varieties and cultivation techniques for use on the Moon and Mars 2 ."
The EDEN ISS project's 2018 season was a resounding success. It proved that it is possible to reliably grow a wide variety of fresh, healthy food in one of the most hostile environments on our planet. The 268 kg of produce harvested from just 12.5 m² is a powerful testament to the potential of controlled environment agriculture.
Demonstrated reliable food production in extreme environments
Closed-loop systems for water, air, and nutrient recycling
Technologies directly applicable to lunar and Martian missions
The lessons learned in the Antarctic ice are directly applicable to the challenges of space exploration. The technologies for efficient water recycling, atmosphere management, and remote operation are the very same needed for a greenhouse on Mars. Moreover, the project demonstrated that the value of such a system extends beyond nutrition—it can also provide a crucial psychological refuge for crews on long-duration missions. As we prepare to venture deeper into the solar system, the work of EDEN ISS ensures that astronauts will be able to enjoy a taste of home, no matter how far from Earth they may be.