Logika Moloka and Roscosmos sign agreement to develop food for cosmonauts
The agreement was signed on Thursday by Dmitry Bakanov, Director General of Roscosmos, and Ruslan Alisultanov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Logika Moloka. Following the signing, Bakanov identified providing cosmonauts with nutritionally complete, healthy food while working in orbit as a priority. He said developing such products was primarily a scientific and technological challenge: they must maintain their quality for the required duration of a stay on the station. Bakanov noted that the company was successfully addressing this challenge.
The head of the state corporation explained the shelf-life requirements by reference to the station's supply schedule. He said cosmonauts spend about nine months on board, while cargo spacecraft deliver food roughly quarterly. Products must therefore remain safe to eat and retain their quality for 90–100 days without added preservatives. Bakanov also linked the development of long-life dairy products to the technologies used by the company and the balance of proteins, fungi and starter cultures.
Logika Moloka's press office said dried yogurt would be developed for cosmonauts. According to the company, a special drying process will preserve all of its functional properties. The product will contain 10 times as many probiotic bifidobacteria as regular yogurt. It will also contain protein, calcium, B vitamins, and vitamins D and E. Representatives of the manufacturer explained that the dried format reduces the product's weight and eliminates the need for a cold chain.
The development process will take cosmonauts' tastes into account. Alisultanov explained that this approach reflects the substantial changes in taste preferences that occur in orbit. He also said the dairy and space industries share a reliance on fundamental science, the use of advanced technologies and a constant search for new solutions. In his view, the collaboration will make it possible to create a fundamentally new product for use both in space and on Earth. He identified making new food technologies accessible to millions of consumers as one of the objectives.
Bakanov confirmed that the developments could subsequently be used in products for a broad range of consumers, including children. The company is also considering using dried yogurt on Arctic expeditions and in seasonal supply deliveries to Russia's northern regions. Other potential applications it identified include supplying islands and other hard-to-reach areas, as well as food for tourists and people following special diets. According to Alisultanov, some of the jointly developed solutions will eventually form the basis of products for both the space industry and everyday consumption.
Logika Moloka produces dairy products, children's food and plant-based beverages in Russia. The company has 13 factories and classifies 90% of its product range as healthy food. Its brands include Prostokvashino and AktiBio, as well as Actimuno, Rastishka, Tyoma and Danissimo. Its portfolio also includes Bio Balance and Aktual. The company produces plant-based beverages under the Planto brand.
