NASA Announces Winners of Mars Food System Challenge

NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table announced five winning teams from 113 entries across 33 countries. The top prize, $300,000, went to Chinyere Ukeje of Philadelphia for the Adaptive Nourishment Infrastructure (ANI) concept—a modular system that blends controlled‑environment agriculture, fermentation, fungi cultivation, and closed‑loop nutrient recycling to produce 50 % of a crew’s meals off‑Earth. ANI is designed to cook fresh meals daily and withstand shortages of power, water, equipment, or crew time. The second prize, $200,000, was awarded to Cislune of Rosemead for a Fresh, Ferment, Reserve system that supplements in‑situ production with a protected Earth‑loaded reserve. Additional awards honored applied frameworks, mission simulation, human‑centered design, and an international winner. The challenge focused on a 15‑person crew for 500 Martian sols (≈513 Earth days), highlighting the need for sustainable, low‑mass food solutions beyond the ISS’s pre‑packaged meals.