Japan is mulling to conduct research on developing “sustainable food sources” on the moon, local media reported.

The federal government along with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will join hands with private food and tech companies and start-ups for the joint study likely to begin In March next year.

Sources told Kyodo News Agency that the research would be spearheaded by Space Foodsphere, a Tokyo-based space food research group comprised of dozens of entities, seasoning maker Ajinomoto Co., system integrator NTT Data Corp., and technology start-ups such as bio-venture Euglena Co.

The Japanese government will fund the program.

The basic research is designed to meet the demand for a supply of food on the moon for long-term lunar missions involving a large number of crew members, the news agency said, adding it is an attempt to encourage the private sector to enter the space business.

The project is expected to begin initial research at a local space exploration facility in Japan before moving to a location “similar to the lunar environment, such as Antarctica.”

“Their study aims to help develop technologies to operate a plant factory for indoor crop yields on the Moon where the temperatures are below minus 100 C and there is a lack of water and air necessary for growing crops. The study will also include how to maintain healthy mental and physical conditions in a confined space for long periods of time,” the news agency said.

“These technologies, if developed, are also expected to solve issues of farming under desertification and climate change on earth,” it added.