...Alex Tolley wrote a couple of posts on Centauri Dreams about Martian farming based on regolith as opposed to hydroponics:https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2023/01/26/food-production-on-mars-dirt-farming-as-the-most-scalable-solution-for-settlement/https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2023/01/31/marmie-the-martian-regolith-microbiome-inoculation-experiment/The memory is hazy but I do remember an article not too long ago about genetic engineering rice (I think) to better withstand perchlorates.
In addition to agriculture options, there are also options for aquaculture. I recall a paper or lecture where aquaculture was promoted over pure agriculture. What is the general consensus?
However, there is still plenty of energy left in biomass that humans cannot use as food. Most plants yield about 50% as edible biomass at best.
Quote from: lamontagne on 05/08/2023 05:08 pmHowever, there is still plenty of energy left in biomass that humans cannot use as food. Most plants yield about 50% as edible biomass at best.The biomass should be considered for more than just food, too. Consider flax, whose seeds have significant nutritional value, but the stalks can be used for linen, increasing the overall percentage of useful mass. A self-sustaining colony will (theoretically) need to clothe itself as well as feed itself.
Quote from: notthebobo on 05/11/2023 01:54 amQuote from: lamontagne on 05/08/2023 05:08 pmHowever, there is still plenty of energy left in biomass that humans cannot use as food. Most plants yield about 50% as edible biomass at best.The biomass should be considered for more than just food, too. Consider flax, whose seeds have significant nutritional value, but the stalks can be used for linen, increasing the overall percentage of useful mass. A self-sustaining colony will (theoretically) need to clothe itself as well as feed itself.Yes, biomass will be a precious resource and there will be competition for its use: Plastics, alcohols, biological reactors and even methane production for fuel can all use biomass. Soil needs biomass for both food to bacteria and structure for aeration. Animals, insects and bacteria can all convert biomass to protein. And as you mention fibers can be used directly, and no doubt many other plant products.
A self-sustaining colony will (theoretically) need to clothe itself as well as feed itself.
Cattle are very inefficient at meat production...
There will be a tension between the engineers who operate the station and the theorists who want to optimize each structure for some particular property.
I think the fish bladder problem will have to be studied empirically. All of these meat sources have no genetic history in other than one gee requirements, and will end up being bred to purpose.
Quote from: JohnFornaro on 05/26/2023 03:15 pmI think the fish bladder problem will have to be studied empirically. [...]What exactly is the fish bladder problem? The swim bladder issues I am aware of are due to pressure. Neutral buoyancy is neutral under any reasonable gravity. Swimming pools are used to simulate zero and low gee. At a first guess I'd think fish are more likely than most to not care about low or high gee. If swim bladders are a problem, you could try sharks.
I think the fish bladder problem will have to be studied empirically. [...]
What exactly is the fish bladder problem?
pressure[/b]. Neutral buoyancy is neutral under any reasonable gravity. Swimming pools are used to simulate zero and low gee. At a first guess I'd think fish are more likely than most to not care about low or high gee. If swim bladders are a problem, you could try sharks.
Quote from: Barley on 05/26/2023 05:23 pmWhat exactly is the fish bladder problem? That the fish bladder was designed to solve buoyancy problems in one gee....Edit, after reading Paul451's comment: I guess the fish won't be that discombobulated.
Perchlorates aren't really a difficult problem. They can be broken down by bacteria in regular composting, or (more likely) rinsed out while you're washing the incoming regolith to mitigate salinity, which you need to do anyway.Even if the rice isn't bothered by the perchlorates, the humans certainly will be! Even low levels (introduced via plant uptake and/or cross-contamination) will cause thyroid dysfunction.Save the costly genetic engineering for the really hard problems, ones where we don't already have superior low-tech fixes.