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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Food Quality Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #395521
Research Project: Reducing Postharvest Loss and Improving Fresh Produce Marketability and Nutritive Values through Technological Innovations and Process Optimization

Location: Food Quality Laboratory

Title: Microgreens for home, commercial, and space farming – a comprehensive update of the most recent developments

Author
item TENG, ZI - University Of Maryland
item Luo, Yaguang - Sunny
item Pearlstein, Daniel
item WHEELER, RAYMOND - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item JOHNSON, CHRISTINA - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item WANG, QIN - University Of Maryland
item Fonseca, Jorge

Submitted to: Annual Review of Food Science & Technology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2022
Publication Date: 12/16/2022
Citation: Teng, Z., Luo, Y., Pearlstein, D.J., Wheeler, R., Johnson, C., Wang, Q., Fonseca, J.M. 2022. Microgreens for home, commercial, and space farming – a comprehensive update of the most recent developments. Annual Review of Food Science & Technology. 14:539-562. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-food-060721-024636.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-food-060721-024636

Interpretive Summary: Microgreens are new food products that have received increased attention from farmers, consumers, and space agencies. However, significant data gaps regarding the nutrition, food safety, and best production practices hinders the broader application of microgreens. This review article summarizes the latest studies on multiple aspects of microgreens and identifies challenges and future research directions. Information will benefit growers, consumers, and the research community.

Technical Abstract: Microgreens are edible young plants that have recently attracted great commercial and scientific interest. These new food products are rich in phytonutrients and have a diversity of colors and flavors. Their short growth cycles and minimal space and fertilizer requirements also allow them to be cultivated in a variety of systems ranging from simple home gardens to sophisticated vertical farms with automated irrigation, nutrient delivery, and lighting controls. Microgreens have also attracted attention from space agencies in the hope that their flavors and colors can contribute to the diet of astronauts in microgravity, in addition to the aforementioned benefits. However, many technical challenges and data gaps for growing microgreens both on Earth and in space remain to be addressed. This review summarizes the latest studies on multiple aspects of microgreens, including the nutritional and socioeconomic benefits, growth systems, key operative conditions, innovative treatments, autonomous facilities, and potential application in outer space. It also provides authors’ perspectives on challenges and research directions aims to stimulate more extensive and interdisciplinary studies.