Ecoation: cultivating a new era of food security

When Vancouver-based Ecoation Innovative Solutions Inc. (Ecoation) joined the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)'s Deep Space Food Challenge (DSFC), a collaboration with NASA, they set out an ambitious goal: to redefine food production both on Earth and in space.

Ecoation's journey began years ago, when CEO Saber Miresmailli, who came from a long line of farmers, lost his aunt to pesticide exposure. Reflecting on that loss, he shared, "Back then, I asked myself: Why should we expose farmers to these chemicals? There had to be a better way." This belief in technology's potential to create safer, sustainable farming practices has driven Ecoation's mission since the company's founding nearly 15 years ago.

Saber co-founded Ecoation with his wife, physicist Maryam Antikchi, to bring innovative, data-driven insights to farmers, allowing them to cultivate healthier crops with minimal pesticide use. "We digitized the farm," Saber explains. "We give farmers the ability to forecast, manage yields, and make informed decisions – all with minimal pesticide use." With Ecoation's tools, farmers can now optimize crop health, reduce environmental impact, and make sustainable, year-round food production a reality.

The DSFC sparked Ecoation's development of the CANGrow Modular Indoor Food Production System. In North Vancouver, they built a prototype that, despite being compact at under two cubic metres, can produce over 700 kg of fresh, nutritious food each year – potentially in nearly any environment – including space. Combining automated climate control, irrigation, and remote monitoring, the system maximizes resource efficiency. "The Deep Space Food Challenge gave us the chance to bring all our wild ideas into focus," Saber says. "We wanted to create a system that wasn't just about food production but about providing a complete, delicious, and nutritious meal."

Beyond efficiency, CANGrow also considers the psychological well-being of astronauts on long missions. "We wanted astronauts to experience the meditative benefits of tending to plants – something as close to Earth as possible in space," Saber explains. CANGrow includes features like an automated watering system, waste-reducing composting, and energy-efficient LED lights, addressing the unique challenges of space. Saber adds, "Every gram counts when sending something to space," highlighting Ecoation's dedication to efficient, impactful design.

In April 2024, Ecoation was selected as the Canadian grand prize winner of the DSFC. What have they been up to since then? As part of their broader vision, Ecoation has expanded into two new companies. Maia Farms, co-founded by agronomist Gavin Schneider, focuses on producing protein-rich, fungi-based biomass as a sustainable meat alternative. Saber notes, "Right now, they can produce the equivalent of a cow's worth of protein per day, with a product that rivals meat in taste and texture." Meanwhile, Next Planet Technologies is advancing the CANGrow device for use in extreme Earth environments and potential Moon or Mars missions. Saber's enthusiasm for space exploration led him to name CANGrow as a tribute to Canadarm, Canada's iconic robotic arm that supported space shuttle missions. This "homage," as he describes it, reflects Ecoation's ambition to extend Canada's legacy in space by developing sustainable food systems for space missions and extreme environments.

From a personal mission to groundbreaking innovations for a healthier future, Ecoation's journey exemplifies human ingenuity. With each step, Ecoation is proving that sustainable, nutritious food is attainable, anywhere humanity ventures.