A competition from space agencies in the United States and Canada has come up with suggestions for astronaut food using microorganisms, insects or 3D printers – and they include a team from Germany.

The “Electric Cow” team proposes to use microorganisms and 3D printers to produce food from carbon dioxide, among other things, the US space agency NASA announced in a pre-recorded video show.

The so-called Deep Space Food Challenge had about 180 submissions from around the world. Eighteen winners from the US and ten winners from Canada and the rest of the world, mostly cash prizes, were invited to participate in the second leg of the competition. “We’re really excited to see what you’ll be boiling,” said American entrepreneur and guest juror Martha Stewart.

NASA boss Bill Nelson said the competition was primarily advertised with a view to longer missions to more distant destinations in space. “We have to prepare food that can help us when we go to Mars.” Food aboard the International Space Station ISS was sufficient, said former astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent nearly a year on the ISS. “But there’s always room for improvement. Growing something, preparing something, and eating good makes you feel at home.”