Space travel will fuel a €1.66 trillion global market over the next decade. There are astronauts who will take off to discover the cosmos, professionals, and also new space tourists. All of them must be fed and there is ferment in this segment of the space industry: alongside the cutting-edge technologies of modules and spacecraft, there is still the need to provide food and even on this front there is no lack of innovation.
Lithuania has created a technology hub Space Cluster Lithuania to build a strong ecosystem of the space sector and increase its involvement in international projects. The goal is for the Lithuanian space industry to contribute to 1% of the country’s GDP. Lithuania is already part of 30 European Space Agency projects with more than €5 million in investments, positioning the Baltic Republic as an emerging player in the space economy.
One of the latest initiatives in the space has gastronomic roots. Super Garden, a women-led freeze-dried food startup, has partnered with ESA to develop new food for astronauts. This is a significant milestone for the Baltic startup ecosystem, as space food is currently produced virtually exclusively by US companies.
Space food, while nutritious, was tasteless due to technological inefficiencies and taste experiences, all of which astronauts pointed out. “Freeze-dried food improves the perception of flavor while filling snacks with nutrients and vitamins. Freeze-drying technology allows the development of products that retain their nutritional value for up to twenty years without preservatives, thanks to the absence of moisture“, says Laura Kaziukoniené, CEO of Super Garden.
Astronaut snacks will be created using the company’s patented food, taking into account the astronauts’ preferred nationalities and cuisines. The snacks contain special microvitamins and proteins to ensure maximum nutrition in harsh conditions. Among other things, food similar to that intended for astronauts can currently be purchased in supermarkets in the country. One-centimeter cubes contain a whole beetroot, a carrot, or ten strawberries.
The partnership with ESA will help the startup to open up to new markets, for example with Japanese or UAE aerospace companies and NATO for the supply of food for the military. Super Garden is also on the verge of commercializing a 3D printer that allows customers to create personalized healthy snacks from freeze-dried powders. The innovation will position Lithuania as a hub for food technology, attracting interest and investment from international food players.