IGF::OT::IGF THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEM (VEGGIE) IS A DEPLOYABLE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF GROWING PLANTS, TO PROVIDE THE ISS CREW WITH A PALATABLE, NUTRITIOUS, AND SAFE SOURCE OF FRESH FOOD. THE VEGGIE SYSTEM PROVIDES THE NECESSARY LIGHTING AND NUTRIENT DELIVERY FOR EFFICIENT PLANT GROWTH. IT UTILIZES THE CABIN ENVIRONMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND A SOURCE OF C02 TO MINIMIZE COMPLEXITY AND POWER REQUIREMENTS. THE VEGGIE SYSTEM IS COMPRISED OF FOUR MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS: ELECTRONICS, STRUCTURE, SPECIMEN ENCLOSURE, AND ROOT MAT. NASA'S INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH "PULL" AND "PUSH" TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES, CONSIDERS A WIDE RANGE OF PATHWAYS TO ADVANCE THE NATION'S CURRENT CAPABILITIES IN SPACE. FOURTEEN DRAFT SPACE TECHNOLOGY AREA ROADMAPS COMPRISE THE OVERALL INTEGRATED MAP. NASA DEVELOPED THE SET OF DRAFT ROADMAPS FOR USE BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (NRC) AS AN INITIAL POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR MAPPING NASA'S FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY. VEGGIE FALLS INTO TECHNOLOGY AREAS TA06 (HUMAN HEALTH, LIFE SUPPORT AND HABITATION SYSTEMS) AND TA07 (HUMAN EXPLORATION DESTINATION SYSTEMS). THE SPACE TECHNOLOGY GRAND CHALLENGES ARE AN OPEN CALL FOR CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS THAT SOLVE IMPORTANT SPACE-RELATED PROBLEMS, RADICALLY IMPROVE EXISTING CAPABILITIES OR DELIVER NEW SPACE CAPABILITIES ALTOGETHER. THE CHALLENGES ARE CENTERED ON THREE KEY THEMES: (1} EXPAND HUMAN PRESENCE IN SPACE, (2) MANAGE INSPACE RESOURCES, AND (3) ENABLE TRANSFORMATIONAL SPACE EXPLORATION AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. THESE CHALLENGES ARE DESIGNED TO INITIATE THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION AMONG OUR NATION'S INNOVATORS ABOUT FUTURE NASA MISSIONS AND RELATED NATIONAL NEEDS. VEGGIE WOULD BE APPLICABLE IN THE SPACE COLONIZATION ARENA. THAT IS, CREATE SELFSUSTAINING AND RELIABLE HUMAN ENVIRONMENTS AND HABITATS THAT ENABLE THE PERMANENT COLONIZATION OF SPACE AND OTHER PLANETARY SURFACES. VEGGIE IS CURRENTLY NOT MANIFESTED, THEREFORE TRANSPORT TO AND FROM ISS ARE NOT ADDRESSED.