Can brewer’s spent grain – BSG -- improve simulated Mars soils?

Texas student studies plant growth in lunar and Martian soils with industry support

A doctoral student from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is working on research that could one day support farming beyond Earth. Harrison Coker, who joined the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences in 2018, is exploring how plants can grow in lunar and Martian soil simulants. His interest began after he discovered space agriculture through guidance from professors Julie Howe and Peyton Smith. 

With their support, Coker earned a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity. The research focuses on regolith-based agriculture, which studies how plants may grow in soils found on the Moon and Mars. These soils lack organic matter, making it difficult for plants to survive without added nutrients. 

Coker partnered with Starbase Brewing in Austin to explore whether brewer’s spent grain, known as BSG, could improve these simulated soils. BSG is an organic byproduct from brewing beer and is rich in nutrients. Early trials showed that adding BSG greatly improved plant growth in both lunar and Martian simulants. 

This collaboration led to an experiment called OASIS, Optimizing Agriculture in Simulated Interplanetary Soils. The project launched to the International Space Station on August 1, 2025, as part of the NASA Crew-11 mission. The team also worked alongside Starbase Brewing’s first space experiment, MicroBrew-1. The samples returned to Earth on August 9 for further analysis. 

The research team includes graduate and undergraduate students from Texas A&M, as well as industry and space technology partners. While at the Kennedy Space Center, Coker prepared the experiment for launch and determined how much soil, organic matter, and water the plants needed to survive in microgravity. The ground-based control experiment will help compare results. 

The goal is to learn how microgravity and radiation affect plant-microbe interactions and plant health. Scientists hope this work will help future space habitats grow food sustainably. Current systems rely mostly on hydroponics, which require constant nutrient supplies. Soil-based systems may offer a long-term solution for space colonies. 

Coker believes this work is an important step toward understanding how life can thrive beyond Earth, supporting future generations who may one day live on other planets. 

Photo Credi: istock-pkujiahe