More than 200 different plant species have been successfully cultivated over the past five years at the coldest place on Earth. Specialists from the Russian Antarctic Expedition and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute have grown a wide range of leafy greens, vegetables, and melon varieties at Vostok Station—despite the extreme climatic conditions.
Fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers from the station’s own greenhouse are now an almost permanent part of the polar researchers’ diet. Looking ahead, the cultivation of strawberries is also planned. The fruit and berry growing project is part of the “Plants” experiment and has been conducted since 2020 in cooperation with the Agrophysical Research Institute and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In the phytotechnological greenhouse complex, various types of cabbage, leafy greens, herbs, as well as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and watermelons are grown.
“Raising the plants and observing their development sparks great interest among the polar researchers and has a positive effect on their psychological and emotional well-being. Witnessing the fruits ripen is a special pleasure. The appearance of the first small watermelons was a great joy for us,” reports Sergei Stupnikov, senior geophysicist at Vostok Station.
The harvest takes place in specially developed greenhouse facilities of the Agrophysical Research Institute. These are equipped with innovative lighting systems whose spectrum, intensity, and uniformity are precisely tailored to each plant species. They are complemented by resource-efficient plant protection and monitoring systems.
“Thanks to the phytotechnological greenhouse complexes, the diet of the station members can be regularly supplemented with fresh, vitamin-rich plant products. In addition, the variety of prepared dishes has increased significantly,” explains Dmitri Bashmashnikov, head of the 70th Russian Antarctic Expedition. The presence of living plants also has positive effects on health as well as psychological and emotional well-being.
The so-called panoponic technology is used, which ensures an optimal balance of solid, liquid, and gaseous phases in the root zone and allows precise control of all environmental parameters.
“Even under the extreme conditions of Vostok Station, most cultivated plants reach their full yield potential. Quality and yield are comparable to modern greenhouses with artificial lighting,” emphasizes Ilya Stepnadze, senior magnetologist at the station. Watermelons and cucumbers are grown in separate phytocomplexes for climbing plants—from sowing and flowering to pollination and full ripening.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal