Integration of lessons from recent research for “Earth to Mars” life support systems

Development of reliable and robust strategies for long-term life support for planetary exploration must be built from real-time experimentation to verify and improve system components. Also critical is incorporating a range of viable options to handle potential short-term life system imbalances. This paper revisits some of the conceptual framework for a Mars base prototype which has been developed by the authors along with others previously advanced (“Mars on Earth^®”) in the light of three years of experimentation in the Laboratory Biosphere, further investigation of system alternatives and the advent of other innovative engineering and agri-ecosystem approaches. Several experiments with candidate space agriculture crops have demonstrated the higher productivity possible with elevated light levels and improved environmental controls. For example, crops of sweet potatoes exceeded original Mars base prototype projections by an average of 46% (53% for best crop) ultradwarf (Apogee) wheat by 9% (23% for best crop), pinto bean by 13% (31% for best crop). These production levels, although they may be increased with further optimization of lighting regimes, environmental parameters, crop density etc. offer evidence that a soil-based system can be as productive as the hydroponic systems which have dominated space life support scenarios and research. But soil also offers distinct advantages: the capability to be created on the Moon or Mars using in situ space resources, reduces long-term reliance on consumables and imported resources, and more readily recycling and incorporating crew and crop waste products. In addition, a living soil contains a complex microbial ecosystem which helps prevent the buildup of trace gases or compounds, and thus assist with air and water purification. The atmospheric dynamics of these crops were studied in the Laboratory Biosphere adding to the database necessary for managing the mixed stands of crops essential for supplying a nutritionally adequate diet in space. This paper explores some of the challenges of small bioregenerative life support: air-sealing and facility architecture/design, balance of short-term variations of carbon dioxide and oxygen through staggered plantings, options for additional atmospheric buffers and sinks, lighting/energy efficiency engineering, crop and waste product recycling approaches, and human factor considerations in the design and operation of a Mars base. An “Earth to Mars” project, forging the ability to live sustainably in space (as on Earth) requires continued research and testing of these components and integrated subsystems; and developing a step-by-step learning process.     

发展农业现代化若干问题的思考

没有农业的现代化就没有中国农业生产现代化，通过分析我国农业现代化的基本现状和存在的问题，提出了只有提高农业劳动生产率，开拓现代农业新领域，调整产业结构，发挥比较优势，坚持科教兴农，走集约化农业发展道路，我国农业的现代化和社会主义新农村建设才能取得更大的成效。     

基于农业现代化的农业保险服务体系建设

“十八大”报告提出未来我国农业发展要走新型农业现代化之路。农业现代化将带来农业生产方式的根本转变,即传统农业向现代农业转变。以规模化、机械化、专业化和产业化为特征的现代农业将催生包括全面风险保障、金融、技术与信息服务在内的多样化的农业保险需求。而现行的农业保险不能有效满足新的保险需求,这就要求农业保险创新服务内容和服务方式,即未来农业保险要向农业综合服务转变,为促成这一转变,需要针对现行农业保险服务体系存在的问题从六个方面来完善农业保险服务体系建设。     

推进经济持续发展 努力缩小贫富差距

本文从经济发展的角度提出农业产业化是促进农村阶层有序合理分化的基础;大力发展多种所有制经济,优化产业结构,开拓就业渠道;加快城市化步伐,缩小农民阶级的规模;加强和改善宏观调控,规范分配和消费市场,建立和完善公正的利益分配机制等社会分层合理化的对策,促进我国的社会分层结构和机制更加健康、合理。     

Sodium and potassium uptake of Ulva – Application of marine macro-algae for space agriculture

The treatment of sodium, Na, and potassium, K, presents a challenge in space agriculture material recycling, as humans require Na and plants cannot grow at high Na concentrations. Hence, we are proposing the use of marine macro-algae to harvest K and other minerals from composted human waste. Ulva was selected for this feasibility study, since it tolerates a wide range of salinity levels. Growth capability of Ulva was examined under various total salinity levels and proportions of Na and K in the incubation medium. A homeostatic feature of Ulva was found in its intra-cellular concentration of Na and K, and in the intra-cellular ratio between Na and K (at 0.58 ± 0.30, lower than that of human metabolic waste). Intracellular concentration of K in Ulva is 20 times higher than seawater. Because of these characteristics, Ulva is a good candidate species for space agriculture.     

我国新农村建设中的农业投资现状及对策

我国现阶段的农业还处于传统农业阶段,在由传统农业走向现代农业的过程中,农业投入作为农业增长的物质前提将起到极大作用。而我国农业投资一直不足,极大地制约了我国农村经济的发展。我国建设社会主义新农村更是需要大量资金投入,政府投资观念的改变、信贷体制的完善、投资环境的改善都会极大地改善我国的农业投资现状。     

建立我国政策性金融支农体系的构想

根据当前农村金融的现状，我国应以财政补贴为手段，以政策性银行为主体，以政策性农业保险为后盾，尽快构建政策性全融支农体系，承担起全面的支农任务。国家财政应列出一部分预算用于转移性财政支出，即向有政策性金融业务的机构提供贴息资金和呆账损失的补偿，这样做有利于引导社会资金流向农业和农村。政策性支农的主体应是政策性银行，在我国粮棉购销市场全面放开后，我国的农业政策性银行——农发行基本完成了它的历史使命，其职能应重新定位。此外，我国应加强对农业保险的支持力度，在财政资金投入、税收、再保险等方面给予其优惠政策。     

诱导创新理论与我国农业技术创新方向

由于在技术变迁过程中会出现“路径依赖”现象，技术创新方向的选择就显得至关重要。当前我国应发展劳动力使用型技术，但从长远来看必须走知识农业的道路；丰裕型农产品应成为农业技术创新的主导方向；政府要制定良好的教育、科研推广制度，促进技术创新方向合理化。     

我国农业保险研究

20世纪90年代以来，作为农业的一个重要屏障和支持农业发展的制度安排，我国农业保险的发展处于停滞不前、日益萎缩的局面。农业保险是一种特殊性质的保险，它具有风险高、赔付高、经营成本高等特点。文章从农业保险发展困境的理论基础出发，分析我国农业保险发展受阻的根本原因，试图找出适合我国农业保险发展的制度模式。