Agriculture in Space? China sent seeds into space to solve Food Crisis

Space breeding is a process that exposes seeds and strains to cosmic radiation and microgravity during a spaceflight mission, causing genetic mutations.

They are some examples of growing number of new varieties of important food crops that are being bred on spacecraft and space stations while orbiting our planet. While some of the mutations leave the plants unable to grow, others can be advantageous.

Excerpts from the scientific report:

"The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), which operates the newly built Tiangon space station, has announced a list of space seed projects to be carried aboard the Shenzhou-16 manned spaceship," as per the scientific report.

The report mentioned that "the initiative involves 136 types of space breeding experimental materials from 53 institutions, including a variety of crops, forest plants, grasses, flowers, medicinal plants, and microorganisms."

Words from the scientists:

"This innovative approach aims to develop new crop varieties capable of withstanding extreme growing conditions. In the low-gravity environments beyond Earth's protective magnetic shield, seeds undergo subtle DNA changes, making them more resistant to drought and certain diseases," according to the scientist involved in the research.

China in space:

Over the years, China has sent seeds of hundreds of plant species into space on numerous retrievable satellites and Shenzhou spaceships.

China has been at the forefront of space breeding since its first experiment in 1987.

Talking about the Shenzhou-16 spacecraft, which was launched on May 30, 2023, carried three astronauts who will stay aboard the station for approximately five months. During their stay, they will "conduct scientific experiments and regular maintenance, contributing to China's ambitious space exploration program," reported in Chinese media.

China's first manned space mission in 2003 marked it as the third country after the former Soviet Union and the US to put a person into space using its own resources.

Political perspective of the Experts:

China's mission comes in the middle of rising rivalry between China and the US in the field of space exploration.

"While the competition has been largely friendly, it also reflects the sharpening contest for leadership and influence in technology, military, and diplomatic fields," a news agency reported.

According to a diplomat "China's decision to build its own space station was prompted by its exclusion from the International Space Station, primarily due to US concerns over the Chinese space programs' close ties with the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party."