Robertet, a leading French natural ingredients group, has made a groundbreaking investment in the future of farming with the acquisition of the Interstellar Lab Biopod. This innovative pod, originally designed for NASA, boasts a self-regulating system that optimizes the water cycle, captures CO2, maximizes natural sunlight, and reduces energy consumption. With its potential to reduce land and water requirements by over 99%, it represents a significant advancement in sustainable ingredient production.
Measuring 11m long, 5m wide, and 6m high, the Biopod provides 100m2 of controlled growing space without the need for a foundation. Julien Maubert, the Director of Raw Materials Division at Robertet, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating that it signifies a disruptive investment in the culture and research of aromatic plants. While specific details on the plants to be studied are not yet available, Maubert emphasized the Biopod’s potential for accelerating research on various themes.
This investment is part of Robertet’s larger commitment to agronomic innovation, driven by the recognition of the environmental, economic, and social challenges facing its plant productions. The company’s focus includes precision agriculture, plant material selection, cultivation techniques, yield optimization, and enhancing resilience to climate change.
Jérôme Bruhat, CEO of Robertet, sees the Interstellar Lab Biopod as a new chapter in agronomy and a testament to the company’s strategy of embracing cutting-edge technologies to deliver the best natural products for a more sustainable industry. He praised Interstellar Lab as a pioneer in biofarming and highlighted the collaboration’s potential to transform the aromatic plants industry.
Interstellar Lab, a French-American startup, envisions a future where their BioPods not only improve farming practices on Earth but also support humanity’s settlement on other planets. With expertise drawn from NASA, Space X, Trimble, Airbus, and Dassault Systemes, the company plans to retrofit the BioPod for interplanetary missions in the coming years.
Barbara Belvisi, founder and CEO of Interstellar Lab, expressed excitement about partnering with Robertet, citing their shared values of biodiversity preservation. Belvisi emphasized the BioPod’s contribution to the industry’s ecological transition, harnessing technology to benefit life itself.
