Mars One Ventures AG
InFin Innovative Finance AG: Dr. ir. Wieger Wamelink joins Mars One advisory board
DGAP-News: InFin Innovative Finance AG / Key word(s): Change of Personnel Dr. ir. Wieger Wamelink joins Mars One advisory board Amersfoort, December 1st, 2016 – Mars One is pleased to welcome Dr. ir. Wieger Wamelink to its advisory board. Dr. ir. Wamelink is a senior ecologist at Wageningen Environmental Science at Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands). He has made significant scientific contributions to the understanding of the possibilities of using Martian soil for food production on Mars, a key component of the Mars One mission. Wamelink leads the Food for Mars and Moon team that started experimenting with growing plants on NASA’s Mars and moon soil simulants in 2012. Dr. Wamelink says: “The food for Mars project was started to provide initiatives like Mars One information necessary to plan for sufficient fresh food production for future human Martians. We see this as one of the key-challenges to be able to establish a permanent settlement on Mars.” Before Wamelink’s research in 2012, there had been no similar large-scale experiments completed anywhere in the world. One of the potential challenges with Martian soil is the toxic heavy metals it contains. Prior to Wamelink’s research, it was unknown if these metals would end up in the plants, making them poisonous for humans. The lack of biological material in the Martian soil and the lack of microbes and other organisms was also a concern. Not only did Wamelink’s team successfully grow ten different crops, the researchers tested four of the ten grown crops for heavy metals and found that these were safe to eat for humans. The successfully grown crops on Moon and Mars soil simulants were the main ingredients in a four-course dinner for the beneficiaries of this research. Beyond those findings, Wamelink is also well-known for investigating the effect of adding biological material (cut up plants) to the soil and experimenting with replanting seeds grown on the Martian soil simulant. The results of the groundbreaking Food for Mars research were covered by media around the world, including publications such as Forbes, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. Dr. Wamelink has laid the foundation for future research on the topic, both for his own group’s upcoming research and for research by others. Bas Lansdorp, CEO and co-founder of Mars One: “Growing food locally is especially important to our mission of permanent settlement, as we have to ensure sustainable and healthy food production on Mars. The results of Dr. ir. Wamelink and his team at Wageningen University & Research are significant progress towards that goal, and we are honored that Wamelink has now officially joined our advisory board”. About Dr. ir. Wieger Wamelink About Mars One
2016-12-01 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG. |
Language: | English | |
Company: | InFin Innovative Finance AG | |
Birsigstr. 2 | ||
4054 Basel | ||
Switzerland | ||
Phone: | +41 61 312 34 11 | |
E-mail: | ir@infin-innovative.com | |
Internet: | www.infin-innovative.com | |
ISIN: | CH0132106482 | |
WKN: | A14NYB | |
Listed: | Regulated Market in Frankfurt (General Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Munich | |
End of News | DGAP News Service |