Thanks to research aimed at making it possible to grow crops, space travel could soon be underway, including freshly harvested food. vegetables and fruits outside Thierry.
An international team of scientists managed the advancements for astronauts to enjoy vegetables in fruits grown in space on long-term business trips. The work was published in a magazine New phytologist.
More than 40 experts from 11 countries in seven space agencies They work under coordination Australian Research Council Center of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S, 2024-2030)next to NASAdevelop a road map that consolidates plant cultivation as an important part of human survival away from Earth.
As noted by one of the authors of the study Sigfredo Fuenteswith University of Melbourne, The goal encompasses a transformation of the traditional view of cultivation: “Our work proposes a Bioregenerative Life Support Readiness Level (BLSS) framework that extends NASA’s Crop Rating Scale to measure the ability of plants to recycle air, water, and nutrients in space.”
BLSS development is not just about food. These bioregenerative systems seek to guarantee oxygen renewalhe water circulation and production pharmaceutical compounds and biomaterials vital during spaceflight. According to Fuentes, “Plants are nature’s multi-taskers: they provide oxygen, purify water, recycle waste, produce medicine on demand, and even improve the mental health of astronauts.”
Although the advantages are obvious, the conditions of Art micro-graves and differences in the intensity of gravity relative to Earth create unprecedented problems. Fluid dynamics change, which makes it difficult to transport water and nutrients to the roots. The lack of natural convection also affects heat exchange and air circulation, elements that can limit plant development.
Scientific groups are investigating the phenomenon gravitropismthe response of plants to gravity to adapt species to life in microgravity and partial gravity, such as the Moon or Mars. “Scientists are investigating the mysteries of gravitropism in extraterrestrial environments in order to optimize cultivation in conditions of reduced gravity,” the author of the study emphasized.
Mission Artemis III NASA will mark a historic event in late 2027: for the first time, three fast-growing plant species will grow on the surface of the Moon in a climate-controlled chamber as part of an experiment. Influence of the Moon on Agricultural Flora (LEAF). in a week 500 grams of samples will return to Earth for studyincluding genetic analyzes and exposure to reduced gravity and cosmic radiation.
Part of the analysis of these cultures will go to laboratories in Australia, where researchers from P4S and University of Melbourne They will delve into the influence of the lunar environment on the biology of plants.
The future of space agriculture already depends on advanced technological tools. Scientists use omics technology in models of artificial intelligencewhich create “digital twins” of plants to regulate the growth, quality and acceptance of food by astronauts in real time. These models include both physiological parameters and human sensory response measurements. As explained with v DAFW (Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine Group) University of Melbourneit aims to “maintain astronauts’ sensory perception and avoid food fatigue.”
Research on space crops not only answers extraterrestrial needs, the experience of cultivation in extreme conditions can revolutionize the practice of sustainable agriculture on our planet.
Plants grown in space will be much more than a source of food. They embody a connection to the Earth, provide psychological well-being and symbolize a decisive step in finding self-sufficiency outside of our natural environment. “We are on the verge of becoming a multiplanetary species, and plants are our most loyal companions,” Fuentes concluded.
The roadmap agreed by P4S and NASA aligns with the Artemis mission’s plans to establish a permanent presence on the Moon by 2030 and, thereafter, support human life during expeditions to Martha to the middle of the century.
“It is not only about growing plants in space, but also about ensuring the future of humanity outside the borders of the Earth.” concluded Sigfredo Fuentes.
