How do we grow more food with less? Less land, less water, and less inputs all under the stressful conditions of a changing climate. So many innovations, both applied and fundamental, have come from research into space and space exploration and maybe the solutions to the challenges facing agriculture will come from beyond our terrestrial home. Bayer Crop Science is excited to partner with the University of Arizona’s Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM) at Biosphere 2 to push the boundaries of agriculture research in the controlled environment.
Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM) is a hermetically sealed habitat located at the renowned University of Arizona Biosphere 2. SAM provides a unique, powerful environment in which to conduct a multitude of studies including mechanical and plant-based life support, plant biology and food cultivar research, and human-in-the-loop microbiome studies.
SAM integrates the Biosphere 2 prototype Test Module greenhouse (TM) with an adjacent crew quarters with workshop, kitchen, common area, and private sleeping accommodations. The TM provides hydroponic and soil-based grow environments, controlled lighting, humidity, heating and cooling. A mechanical CO2 scrubber and bioregenerative life support system work in concert to provide clean air and water.
For more information about SAM: https://samb2.space/
We will be awarding multiple unrestricted grants to researchers. There are no reporting requirements and applicants retain ownership of any IP developed. These grants are well-suited for principal investigators as well as postdocs and grad students, and are one of our primary ways for identifying research partners for larger-scale, long-term collaborations.
We are seeking proposals to conduct fundamental plant science research in the ultra-controlled environment of the SAM at Biosphere2 facility at the University of Arizona. Awardees will develop a more detailed experiment plan with the SAM team.
Bayer’s vision of #HealthForAll, #HungerForNone drives our need to strengthen innovation capabilities in all areas of agriculture. We know we can’t accomplish this alone, so we're always interested to hear about novel, early-stage scientific innovations that can contribute to feeding the world without starving the planet. You have our commitment to take a look, match with our R&D priorities and provide you timely feedback.
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