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Scientists Say Mars, Habitats Could Be Built With , Potato-Based Concrete . The Byte reports that scientists in the United Kingdom have created a type of concrete out of potato starch called 'StarCrete.'. The Byte reports that scientists in the United Kingdom have created a type of concrete out of potato starch called 'StarCrete.'. According to a press release, researchers at the University of Manchester say the new compound is "twice as strong as regular concrete.". The team says that StarCrete is formed by combining , "extra-terrestrial dust, potato starch and a pinch of salt.". The team's results were published in the journal 'Open Engineering' last week. The biomanufacturing team says that "surplus starch produced as food for inhabitants could be used for construction" of Martian habitats. The Byte points out that the use of StarCrete would require would-be Martian colonists to grow potatoes. Since we will be producing starch as food for astronauts, it made sense to look at that as a binding agent rather than human blood, Dr. Aled Roberts, lead researcher and fellow at the University of Manchester's Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, via The Byte. Dr. Aled Roberts, the lead researcher on the project, said that , "current building technologies still need many years of development and require considerable energy and additional heavy processing equipment which all adds cost and complexity to a mission." . Roberts argues that the new compound offers a simpler and more feasible approach to building Martian habitats. Before developing StarCrete, the team had created another concrete-like material that required astronauts' blood and urine to build and maintain.