The European Space Agency is organizing a multinational expert team to study the feasibility of incorporating insects into astronauts' dietary systems. The research aims to explore sustainable food supply solutions for long-duration space missions, leveraging the strong adaptability and high nutritional value of insects to address the challenges of the space environment.
Professor Åsa Berggren from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences said: "Insects seem to adapt very well to the space environment. They have a strong ability to withstand physical stress. These small animals are also very good at converting substances that humans cannot eat into the nutrients they need for growth and providing us with nutritious food." The research team found that insects have significant potential in nutrient cycling and protein production.
Since fruit flies became the first living creatures sent into space in 1947, various insects have been tested in space environments. Studies have shown that fruit flies can complete a full life cycle from fertilization to reproduction under microgravity conditions, while species such as tardigrades have demonstrated survival capabilities in the extreme environment of outer space. Currently, house crickets and mealworms have become the focus of research. These two insects were approved for human consumption by the European Food Safety Authority in 2023.
Although insects are already widely consumed on Earth, with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reporting that more than 2,000 species of insects are used as food worldwide, the long-term effects of the space environment on insect growth still require further study. The European Space Agency is designing new experimental protocols to observe the process of insects completing all developmental stages during their stay in orbit, addressing the limitation of short experimental cycles in existing studies.
European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti carried food containing cricket powder during her 2022 mission, marking the entry of insect-based food into the actual testing phase. Researchers will continue to explore the effects of microgravity on the life cycle and reproductive capacity of insects, providing new food source solutions for future space missions.
