Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection
Project Number: 8080-21000-033-023-M
Project Type: Memorandum of Understanding
Start Date: Oct 20, 2025
End Date: Oct 19, 2030
Objective:
The goals of the proposed collaborative efforts are to optimize plum material and growing conditions that minimize space and resource requirements, while reducing harvest time and optimizing yields. A second line of cooperation will focus on a USDA-ARS identified TC09 fungus for promoting plant growth in atmospherically closed environments. The TC09 testing could enable dramatic improvements in crop yields in controlled environments and further our understanding of the plant microbial interactions. A third line of collaboration will explore various crop propagation techniques for spaceflight applications. These techniques include, but are not limited to, callus cultures, plant cuttings, and somatic embryo encapsulation among others, to innovate methods for plant regeneration and extending dormancy to accommodate scheduled plantings. Strategies formulated here, may also help advance commercial agricultural practices. As part of this effort, the Parties will develop plans for future space flight testing. The Parties will combine efforts in a working biotechnology laboratory located in the Land Pavilion at the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT), a theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. USDA-ARS in coordination with Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. through a cooperative agreement pursues strategies at the biotechnology laboratory with tissue culture, plant propagation, and genetic transformation of crops. The Land Pavilion sits on the western side of "Future World" at EPCOT. In addition to being an entertainment venue, the biotechnology laboratory is also a demonstration, production, and platform for novel horticultural techniques on display such as hydroponics, irrigation methods, integrated pest management, and the NASA Environmental Test Chamber Systems (ETCS) which is on view to the public through the EPCOT "Living with the Land" boat ride/show.
Approach:
The research will focus on a set of genetically engineered dwarf fruit trees as well as a USDA-ARS identified TC09 fungus for promoting plant growth in atmospherically closed environments. The TC09 testing could enable dramatic improvements in crop yields in controlled environments and further our understanding of the plant microbial interactions. Another line of research will explore various woody crop propagation techniques for spaceflight applications. These techniques include, but are not limited to, callus cultures, plant cuttings, and somatic embryo encapsulation among others, to innovate methods for plant regeneration and extending dormancy to accommodate scheduled plantings. Research performed here, may also help advance commercial agricultural practices. As part of this effort, the Parties will develop plans for future space flight testing.