New Documentary Explores Canary Islands’ Volcanic Farming as Blueprint for Mars Exploration
Directed by JuanMa V. Betancort, the new documentary Volcania, Life on Mars explores how traditional Canary Islands farming techniques on volcanic soil could support future agricultural efforts on the Red Planet.
The new film Volcania, Life on Mars offers a unique look at how the Canary Islands’ agricultural history could help us explore space. Directed by Tenerife filmmaker JuanMa V. Betancort, the documentary bridges the gap between space exploration and the archipelago’s distinct volcanic landscape.
The film blends documentary storytelling with a cinematic style, moving between two main settings: the mission of NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars and the volcanic terrain of Timanfaya National Park, which serves as a testing site for future space missions. A key highlight of the project is the work of researchers Alba Sánchez and Isabel Vera. They investigate whether traditional farming techniques used on volcanic ash—a method long used to grow crops in the islands' arid climate—could be adapted to support agriculture on Mars.
By connecting ancient farming wisdom with modern aerospace challenges, the film showcases the Canary Islands as a vital natural laboratory for science. Volcania, Life on Mars combines scientific detail with striking visuals and will premiere this Thursday at 8:00 p.m. at Cine Buñuel in El Almacén, Lanzarote. It will then move to TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, with screenings at 7:00 p.m. this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.