SUCCESS STORIES / 01
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How YURI and Sophie’s BioNutrients are pioneering commercial agricultural research in space
Yuri GmbH, Sophie’s BioNutrients, Space Cooperative Europe, and the European Space Agency (ESA) have embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration to revolutionize agricultural research through space-based experimentation. This partnership, supported by the ESA Scale-Up Invest Program and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), marks a significant milestone in the commercial utilization of space for scientific advancement.
A first for the ESA Scale-up Invest Programme
As a leading space biotech company, Yuri GmbH utilizes the microgravity environment of space to develop and manufacture high-quality biotech products. Their modular bioreactors and incubators are designed for cell cultures, protein crystals, and plants, facilitating advanced research and production in space.
Microalgae as sustainable protein source
Sophie’s BioNutrients leverages microalgae to create 100% plant-based, sustainable alternative proteins. Their mission is to revolutionize agricultural practices and promote sustainability, addressing global challenges such as food allergies and environmental impact.
Now they are taking their production into space. Their hypothesis is that microgravity can positively affect the quality of their product and may lower costs, because:
- The cell walls maybe thinner which will allow protein isolation cost to be lower
- The nutrition composition may be different under microgravity, especially the amino acid content
- The aerial composition needed may be different under microgravity. This may positively affect quality
- The amount of carbon and nitrogen needed may be less.
Sophie’s Co-Founder and CEO Eugene Wang is excited about the research to be conducted off Earth: “Space exploration offers insights into closed-loop systems and resource management, the true test and refinement of a sustainable food system which eventually will be deployed here on Earth.”
ESA ScaleUp INVEST: From private actor to space pioneer
The ESA Scale-Up Invest Program, part of the ESA Commercialisation Gateway, is a testament to the European Space Agency’s commitment to advancing space commercialization, fostering a green and digital Europe, and encouraging private investment in the space sector. Launched in 2023 with a €25 million pilot program, Scale-Up Invest accelerates business-to-business transactions, enabling emerging space leaders in Europe to expand their operations sustainably.
But this collaboration is not just about advancing agricultural research; it’s about pioneering new pathways for sustainable food production and ecological resilience. Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of Ventures and Finance at ESA, emphasizes, “Life Science, Production & Manufacturing in Space are key drivers to develop commercial space applications and novel materials for Earth. The strong backing from ESA ScaleUp INVEST serves as a testament to Yuri’s commercial life science payload service, enabling microgravity research and manufacturing for commercial Agri Food, Life Science, and Pharma companies.”
Success in Space Cooperation
Space Cooperative Europe (SCE2) is managing the ESA BSGN Accelerator for AgriFood, therefor playing a crucial role in advancing space-based agricultural research.
Markus Häuser, Managing Director of SCE, highlights the significance of this partnership: “Space Cooperative Europe SCE is pleased that Sophie’s BioNutrients BV is the first company to successfully pass the ESA BSGN AgriFood Accelerator process. This milestone underscores the potential of space missions in transforming agricultural practices on Earth.”
The combined efforts of Yuri, Sophie’s BioNutrients, Space Cooperative Europe, and ESA will undoubtedly catalyze transformative advancements in agricultural practices. This partnership exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing complex global challenges and highlights Europe’s leading role in the NewSpace sector.