Ruston, LA – A groundbreaking research project at Louisiana Tech University, funded by NASA, is poised to transform the future of farming on the moon. Led by Dr. Joan Lynam, an associate professor and chemical engineering program chair, the research team has developed an innovative method to grow crops without soil, using recycled urine as both water and fertilizer. This advancement brings the concept of lunar agriculture closer to reality, with potential implementation in the next decade.
Dr. Lynam’s team, which includes Dr. Muhammad Aamir Iqbal, a Fulbright postdoctoral fellow, and Mohammad Tarikuzzaman, a Ph.D. student in micro and nanoscale systems engineering, has devised a sustainable process to support plant growth in space. The process involves recycling urine into water and converting the resulting urea, a waste byproduct, into fertilizer. This technique enables the cultivation of soilless plants, making it feasible to grow healthy crops on the moon’s surface.
The project is supported by NASA’s LaSPACE program, the Louisiana branch of the space agency. By collaborating with Louisiana Tech, NASA aims to advance the research necessary for sustaining human life in space. The success of this project could play a critical role in future lunar and deep-space missions, where sustainable resource management is essential.
The technology behind the research is based on a well-established practice of providing essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and carbon in a water-based environment, similar to placing a flower in a nutrient-rich vase. What sets this research apart is its focus on sustainability—a crucial factor for long-term space exploration, where resupply missions are challenging.
Dr. Lynam’s team has already demonstrated the viability of their process, recycling urine back into water while converting urea into effective fertilizer for the plants. This method not only provides astronauts with a continuous supply of drinking water but also ensures a sustainable source of fertilizer for space-grown crops.
“If all goes well, these techniques could be put in space in approximately six years,” said Dr. Lynam, expressing optimism about the project’s potential.
The research team is enthusiastic about the implications of their work, both for space exploration and for sustainable practices on Earth. “Turning waste into usable and sustainable products will make the world greener and cleaner,” said Tarikuzzaman. “It’s a rewarding project with incredibly far-reaching impacts; we hope to make a difference for the planet and beyond.”
As NASA looks to the future of space exploration, the innovations emerging from Louisiana Tech’s Biomass Lab represent a significant step toward making life on the moon—and potentially beyond—a reality.