‘Waste to value’: Inside cutting-edge DARPA efforts to make food out of trash and gasses
DefenseScoop was briefed on ways the agency is creatively tackling contemporary challenges around food logistics.
By
Brandi Vincent
October 3, 2024
This Summer at the NATO to the Future micro-summit in Washington, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Director Stefanie Tompkins was asked onstage by longtime journalist Steve Clemons to share her favorite “cool new technology thing” the Pentagon’s research arm is developing under her leadership.
She responded: “I mean, the stuff that just catches everyone’s imagination is we want to make stuff that we’ll need where we are going to need it — so making food out of plastic, or food out of thin air.”
Although the DARPA chief did not provide additional details then, a spokesperson later confirmed that Tompkins was referring to two different programs that fall within the agency’s Biological Technologies Office: Cornucopia and ReSource.
Experts involved with Cornucopia are working to enable the on-demand production of appetizing, microbial-origin food using water, air, and electricity. Those participating in ReSource are pursuing efforts to make food and other products (like lubricants, adhesives, tactical fibers, and potable water) from plastics and other military waste.
https://defensescoop.com/2024/10/03/waste-to-value-inside-cutting-edge-darpa-efforts-to-make-food-out-of-trash-and-gasses/
