ESA Tests Edible Insects as Protein Source and Waste Recyclers for Long-Duration Spaceflight

Humans have eaten insects for millennia, and now the European Space Agency (ESA) is investigating whether certain species could become a practical part of astronauts' diets. New research will test whether insects can convert waste compounds into edible nutrients and provide a compact, efficient protein source for long missions.

"Insects seem to cope quite well in space environments. They have a good ability to withstand physical stresses," said Åsa Berggren, lead author of a study published in Frontiers in Physiology. Berggren added that insects can transform waste humans cannot use into proteins and fats that are edible and nutritious.

The ESA and other organizations have conducted insect experiments for decades; notably, fruit flies flew into orbit in 1947 aboard a V-2 rocket. Current research focuses less on novelty and more on practicality: which species survive, reproduce and retain nutritional value under microgravity conditions?

What ESA is looking for

The agency aims to identify species that meet several strict criteria for space missions:

• Survive and thrive during month-long or longer journeys
• Complete entire life cycles in microgravity
• Maintain or reproduce key nutrients across multiple generations
• Efficiently convert human waste streams into safe, edible biomass

Some insects adapt surprisingly well to altered gravity and confined habitats, making them promising candidates for closed-loop life support systems. Others, such as stick insects, appear less likely to cope with the stresses of space and are therefore less suitable.

Next steps

To advance this work, the ESA is assembling multidisciplinary teams of biologists, food scientists and space systems experts. Together they will design modern experiments to evaluate the best candidate species and develop protocols for nutrient testing, breeding and waste conversion in space-like environments.

While using insects as food remains culturally unfamiliar to many, their efficiency, low resource footprint and recycling potential make them a compelling option for sustainable diets on multi-month or multi-year missions. If successful, insect-based systems could reduce resupply needs and close nutritional loops aboard spacecraft and habitats.