Cultivating Martian Agriculture in the corners of the Atacama
Cultivating Martian Agriculture in the corners of the Atacama. Nestled in the northern Atacama Desert of Peru, Pampas de La Joya, meaning "the grasslands of the jewel," presents an extraordinary analogue for Martian soil. This hyperarid region, with its extreme salinity and barren landscape, closely mirrors the conditions found on many Martian plains. It seems fitting that such a pivotal location carries the name "jewel," as it may hold the key to future interplanetary agriculture. Here, we are conducting pioneering research to understand how we can grow food on the Red Planet by utilizing the indigenous knowledge of this land.
Nestled in the northern Atacama Desert of Peru, Pampas de La Joya, meaning "the grasslands of the jewel," presents an extraordinary analogue for Martian soil. This hyperarid region, with its extreme salinity and barren landscape, closely mirrors the conditions found on many Martian plains. It seems fitting that such a pivotal location carries the name "jewel," as it may hold the key to future interplanetary agriculture. Here, we are conducting pioneering research to understand how we can grow food on the Red Planet by utilizing the indigenous knowledge of this land.
Central to our project is the potato, a crop deeply rooted in Peruvian heritage. The indigenous communities of Peru have perfected the art of cultivating over 3000 potato species, each with unique nutritional properties. Potatoes are not only highly nutritious but also versatile, making them ideal for Martian agriculture. By harnessing this rich agricultural wisdom, we aim to grow viable potatoes in Pampas de La Joya, setting the stage for sustainable food production on Mars.”
Explanation of what makes this site perfect - the Holy Trinity
Conditions. Crop. Community.
-
Conditions: “Pampas de La Joya in southern Peru is an ideal Mars analog due to its extreme salinity and hyperarid conditions. The soil's electrical conductivity ranges from 19.3 to 52.6 dS m−1, mirroring Martian regolith's harshness. Low organic carbon levels (10-40 ppm) and the presence of exotic minerals further enhance its suitability for simulating Martian agricultural challenges.”
-
Crop: “Potatoes are highly nutritious, rich in vitamins and minerals, and have a high yield per unit area, making them ideal for space agriculture. Many have identified potatoes as a key crop for Mars due to their carbohydrate content and efficiency in converting light into food. Peru's indigenous communities have cultivated over 3000 potato varieties, providing a diverse genetic pool for adapting to extreme conditions.”
-
Community: “The indigenous communities of Peru possess a rich agricultural history, characterized by advanced techniques and the ability to cultivate crops in harsh environments. Over millennia, they have genetically bred over 3000 unique potato varieties, each adapted to specific conditions such as drought, extreme salinity, and hyperarid climates. Their expertise in farming under challenging conditions, combined with their sophisticated breeding methods, provides invaluable insights for our research on sustainable food production on Mars”
Area to include videos of research & peruvian potato culture?
Area to update visitors on the research
Additionally, the work in Peru hopes to draw from the potato-expertise of local communities near Pampas de La Joya to better understand how future manned Mars missions can effectively utilize the harsh soil conditions to produce food for crews. Pampas de La Joya, in the northernmost corner of the Atacama Desert, has been a long-standing location of interest for astrobiologists, though has had some turbulent project attempts due to its remote location and limited infrastructure for extended stays. This site’s soil has a composition and salinity that is extremely similar to that of Mars. The potential of astronauts growing potatoes has been a notable area of interest, however, there has been limited success with high salinity soil in western lab environments. Coincidentally, Peru is home to over 4,000 varieties of potato, each hand-developed by indigenous populations and with differing sizes, colors, nutritional compositions, and environmental resilience. My project within Pampas de La Joya has been working with a small agricultural indigenous community located directly within the analogue site to run trials of various potato varieties. The hope is to provide a scientific trial that combines indigenous knowledge of potato engineering, the variable conditions of the analogue location, and the on-site observational continuity that has been lacking from previous attempts to identify the ideal variety to bring to space.
.png)
Olivia Ryhe
1 November 2024
Extreme Conditions
Mars has an unforgiving environment—temperatures plummet to -80°F (-60°C) on average, and dust storms can blanket the planet for months. Instruments must be built to withstand intense cold, radiation, and low atmospheric pressure, adding complexity and cost to each mission.
.png)
Olivia Ryhe
1 November 2024
Extreme Conditions
Mars has an unforgiving environment—temperatures plummet to -80°F (-60°C) on average, and dust storms can blanket the planet for months. Instruments must be built to withstand intense cold, radiation, and low atmospheric pressure, adding complexity and cost to each mission.
Olivia Ryhe
1 November 2024
Extreme Conditions
Mars has an unforgiving environment—temperatures plummet to -80°F (-60°C) on average, and dust storms can blanket the planet for months. Instruments must be built to withstand intense cold, radiation, and low atmospheric pressure, adding complexity and cost to each mission.
