Can you safely eat tomatoes grown in soil from Mars?

Wageningen scientists are asking the public to contribute financially to three projects: A look into the invisible world underground, safe tomatoes from Martian soil and a Mosquito Radar app. Three scientific research projects into solutions for societal challenges that are ineligible for regular funding. The new crowdfunding platform of the Wageningen University Fund in its first round is seeking people who want to support these projects.

Through the crowdfunding platform sponsors can decide which of the three projects to support. Donations are welcome as of five euros. For each donation rewards have been devised for each project ranging from a thank you card to a tour of the laboratories for large donations. The three projects will reach their target amount by May 1st, 2016. The Wageningen University Fund is a Public Benefit Institution (ANBI).

The three projects in a row:

The first radishes, peas, tomatoes and rye grown on synthetic Mars and lunar soil from NASA were harvested in Wageningen in 2015. But ecologist Wieger Wamelink wonders whether the plants and fruits are also safe to eat. An important question because Mars and lunar soil contain high concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic. It is still unknown if these toxic substances are also present in the fruit and vegetables.

If the fruits and vegetables are safe to eat we would be one step closer to a stay on Mars or on a semi-permanent base on the moon. Several organizations like NASA, Elon Musk and Mars-One will be taking people to Mars in ten to fifteen year. A stay and return to the moon will already be possible in five years. Travelers will be underway for longer periods of time and will have to eat. And what is more logical than to grow your own space food?

The target amount is 25 thousand euros.

(Springtail Sinella curviseta. Photo: Wim van Egmond)

We are not aware of it, but in the utter darkness beneath our feet small animals, plants, fungi and microbes are moving around in an unprecedented wealth of species. Soil organisms live a life hidden underground. They are often small and move slowly. Their mysterious underground existence and the interaction they have with life above the ground can be exposed in a time-lapse video that compresses time and shows life underground to be a bustling cauldron.

Soil biologist Gerlinde De Deyn will be exposing the life underground that generates our food supply, in collaboration with colleagues Ingrid Lubbers, Jan-Willem van Groenigen and photographer Wim van Egmond. To do this they will build a set-up from which the unexposed soil can be photographed while plant parts above ground grow in the light. The accelerated image playback not only makes soil processes visible but also growing plant roots and even individual microorganisms. A 2 minute film requires 3000 photos in high resolution. The previous time-lapse video (using a primitive set-up) was ‘Bioturbation; worms at work’, which was viewed thousands of times.

The target amount is ten thousand euros.

Mosquitoes ... sleepless nights ... itching. How much and where are mosquitoes an inconvenience? And is climate change going to change that? Questions that the audience can answer by supplying information about mosquito observations and nuisance through a Mosquito Radar app that needs to be specially developed.

Throug the app the mosquito observer can provide reports and photos for identification purposes and view the state of mosquitoes in the Netherlands. In addition entomologist Sander Koenraadt and biologist Arnold van Vliet will be placing mosquito traps in locations from where many or too little reports are done. This ensures a reliable picture of the relationship between the weather and mosquito activity. The importance of this understanding is heightened when the risk of invasions by exotic mosquitoes and outbreaks of tropical diseases increases. The Mosquito Radar Platform will therefore link scientific knowledge with societal issues.

The target amount is 25 thousand euros.