NASA’s “Farming for future” program enables the cultivation of plants without soil during long-term space missions, as well as at future lunar and martian settlements, in hydroponic systems, where vegetables are grown in a complex nutrient solution consisting of more than 30 organic/inorganic components. However, the solubility equilibrium of the complex nutrient solution is adjusted in gravity. The solution tends to be unstable in microgravity conditions according to the experiences collected at the ISS, resulting in the precipitation of the nutrient salts and the subsequent clogging of the hydroponic pipes.<br/>Innostudio’s SpeedyNano® Technology Platform provides a novel approach for the formulation of hydroponic nutrients. The SpeedyNano® Platform is a complex technological solution for developing unique, globular nanostructures with 10-10,000-fold higher apparent solubility; vastly improved biological activity and significantly enhanced cuticle penetration compared to conventional, e.g. core-shell type nanoparticles. The platform is composed of an artificial intelligence supported prediction and experimental design system, which establishes specific interactions between the molecularly dispersed active ingredients and a stabilizer matrix.<br/>Our presentation will detail the methods of manufacturing SpeedyNano® agrochemical active ingredients and highlight the significant benefits of transforming nutrients with limited solubility into instantaneously redispersable and stable SpeedyNano® formulae. Plans to solve the precipitation problems of the hydroponic solution on ISS with the help of SpeedyNano® treated ingredients will also be discussed.<br/>

Novel high throughput nanoformulation platform technology to enhance water solubility and leaf/cuticle penetration of nutrients in extra-terrestrial hydroponic plantations

2019 Spring National Meeting

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