Mealworms: Sustainable Food Source
These larvae consume dry organic matter like grain husks while growing into a nutritious food source. They contain 50% protein and convert 1kg of feed into 200g of edible biomass. Their 10-week lifecycle allows steady production in properly designed habitats. Experiments in closed-loop systems show they reduce waste volume by 30%. Mars colonies could use automated farming modules to grow these efficient protein sources with minimal human labor.