Space Food from Lithuania: How Freeze-Dried Snacks are Conquering Plates Around the World and Beyond

Lithuania is growing its space sector with the goal of making it account for 1% of the country’s GDP. Involvement in over 30 European Space Agency (ESA) projects has attracted more than €5 million in investments. Among these is the startup Supergarden, bringing nutritious freeze-dried food solutions from the supermarket into space with meals tailored to the astronauts’ national cuisines.

 

Laura Kaziukonienė, CEO of Super Garden

 

The global space market is set to triple over the next decade, reaching €1.66 trillion. To capitalize on this growth, Lithuania has created a space hub to build a strong space sector ecosystem and boost its involvement in international projects. The goal is for the space industry to contribute 1% of the country’s GDP. Lithuania is already part of 30 European Space Agency (ESA) projects with over €5 million in investments, positioning the country as an emerging player in the space economy.

 

One of the latest ventures into space comes from the gastronomic industry. Super Garden, a woman-owned freeze-dried food startup, has partnered with ESA in July to create new food for astronauts. This is a significant milestone for the country’s startup ecosystem as currently only USA-based companies supply space food.

 

Space food, although nutritious, was lacking in taste because of technological inefficiencies as well as changed taste experiences reported by astronauts.

 

“Freeze-dried food enhances the food flavor perception while packing the snacks with nutrients and vitamins. Freeze-drying technology allows the development of products that retain their nutritional value for up to twenty years without preservatives, thanks to the absence of moisture,”  Laura Kaziukonienė, CEO of Super Garden, says.

 

The snacks for astronauts will be created using the company’s patented food, taking into consideration the astronauts’ nationalities and preferred cuisines. The snacks contain special micro vitamins and protein to ensure maximum nutrition in harsh conditions. Similar astronaut food can currently be purchased in the country’s supermarkets. One-centimeter cubes fit a whole beetroot, carrot, or ten strawberries. 

 

The ESA partnership will help the startup facilitate partnership negotiations with Japanese or United Arab Emirates aerospace companies and NATO to supply military food provisions. 

“Our collaboration with the ESA marks a profound milestone as it highlights our commitment to the highest standards of quality and innovation. Being trusted by such a prestigious agency is more than just a seal of approval — it is a powerful endorsement that helps open doors to more international markets,” the expert added. 

 

Set on revolutionizing the country’s food industry, Super Garden is on the brink of commercializing a 3D printer that enables customers to create custom healthy snacks from freeze-dried powders. The innovation will help position Lithuania as a hub for food technology, drawing interest and investments from international food players. 

 

Super Garden is also a member of the EU-Japan Business Round Table, along with innovative Japanese and European companies such as Airbus, Ikea, Siemens, LEGO, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba, and others. 

 

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is the country’s center of space-focused innovation thanks to its tight-knit startup ecosystem and governmental support. In 2021, the Space Cluster Lithuania was established in the city to unite space industry companies and develop new market solutions through collaboration with industry, research centers, and government institutions. 

For instance, founding member Blackswan Space develops AI-driven satellite autonomy solutions and has secured contracts with ESA. NanoAvionics, another founding member, has completed over 110 satellite missions and built a nanosatellite platform for a NASA mission. The members of the cluster have participated in joint projects with NASA, ESA, Airbus Defence & Space, Thales Alenia Space, and others, further driving the growth of the space sector.