Seedorina's Distinct Contributions to Nolux Earn Runner-Up Award in NASA Deep Space Food Challenge
RIVERSIDE, CA – October 14, 2024 — The Office of Technology Partnerships at the University of California, Riverside, is thrilled to announce that Seedorina, a Riverside-based startup in the robotics AgTech space, has achieved great traction. Seedorina, founded by Uruguay-born entrepreneurs, partnered with UC Riverside's Principal Investigators Professor Robert Jinkerson and Dr. Martha Orozco in the innovative Nolux project, earning a prestigious runner-up award in NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge. This groundbreaking initiative has set a new standard for space agriculture and promises to have a profound impact on the future of controlled-environment agriculture, both in space and on Earth.
The Nolux project tackles one of the most pressing challenges for long-term space missions: how to grow food in space under conditions of limited sunlight and stringent contamination requirements. By developing a modular, scalable, and highly adaptable system that supports artificial photosynthesis, Seedorina has enabled the successful cultivation of vegetables in space. This innovation not only addresses the needs of space travel but also has significant implications for agriculture in extreme environments on Earth.
“Seedorina played an important role in helping us push the boundaries of space agriculture,” said Martha Orozco, Director of UCR's Plant Transformation Research Center. “Their technological contributions have made the Nolux project a groundbreaking success.”
The Nolux system, developed in just five months, features a sleek, modern design that is intuitive and user-friendly. Its modular and stackable structure allows it to accommodate any crop and scale to operations of any size, reducing costs and enhancing flexibility for research in controlled environments. This highly adaptable system is expected to revolutionize the cultivation of crops in space, aiding the sustainability of long-term space missions to Mars and beyond.
Seedorina’s Team, led by co-founders Sebastián Franco, Nicolás Franco and Pablo Rodrigo, worked closely with UCR investigators, including Andres Narváez, Markus Harland-Dunaway, Martha Orozco and Robert Jinkerson, to integrate product ideation, mechanical engineering, custom electronics, software development, and user experience into a seamless technology stack. The result: a fully developed system that meets NASA's rigorous requirements for space agriculture while offering promising applications for terrestrial use.
Impact Beyond Space
Seedorina’s contributions extend beyond the confines of space. The technology developed for Nolux could transform controlled-environment agriculture on Earth, especially in regions with harsh climates. By allowing for versatile and programmable crop production, the system opens the door to localized food production, reducing reliance on global supply chains and enabling self-sufficiency for communities.
Looking to the Future
Following its recent 45-day testing phase at NASA facilities, where it operated under simulated Mars conditions, the Nolux system continues to evolve. Future plans include expanding the system to accommodate a broader range of vegetable crops and mushrooms, further enhancing the precision and scalability of space agriculture technology.
“We see a future where the technologies we develop for space missions can also address food security challenges on Earth,” said Sebastián Franco, Head of Technology at Seedorina. “Our goal is to create a consumer-level growth chamber that can be used everywhere—from research laboratories to home gardens, farms, and even on the Moon or Mars.”
About UC Riverside’s Office of Technology Partnerships
The Office of Technology Partnerships catalyzes the translation of UCR’s world-class research into products and services that benefit society. UCR EPIC SBDC's mentors provide commercialization assistance to startups and emerging businesses, supporting their growth and development. By collaborating with the private sector, supporting entrepreneurial initiatives, and fostering innovation across the campus, the Office is committed to creating a thriving ecosystem that benefits students, faculty, and the community. To learn more about The Office of Tech Partnerships and the EPIC SBDC program, please visit here.
For further details on the Nolux project and Seedorina’s contributions, visit Seedorina’s Website or UCR's award announcement.
Contact Information
Aileen Luib
Assistant Director of Special Programs and Outreach
Office of Technology Partnerships, University of California, Riverside
Phone: 951-827-8516
Email: aileenl@ucr.edu