Astronauts may someday supplement their diets with space-grown soybeans that are processed in a device being developed at Iowa State University. Toni Wang is an I-S-U professor of food science and human nutrition. Wang says the “mini-mill” will process raw beans into soy oil and soy meal.The mini-mill is compact enough to fit on a desktop and uses all mechanical parts with no hazardous solvents, which Wang says makes it perfect for use on the International Space Station. Wang says it will likely be a few years before the mini-mill will help feed space-based scientists.Wang says the research being done at I-S-U can help earth-bound farmers too.The project is supported by the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and the NASA Food Technology Commercial Space Center at I-S-U.
