Australian scientists want to grow plants on the moon by 2025 – News Augsburg, Allgau and Ulm

Australian scientists aim to grow plants on the moon by 2025. In the plan presented on Friday, an Israeli spacecraft would bring seeds to the moon. As Queensland University of Technology biologist Brett Williams explained, after landing, the seeds inside the spacecraft will be floated and observed for signs of germination and growth.

The project is a “first step” toward breeding plants for food, medicine and oxygen production, all of which are critical to supporting human life on the moon one day, the researchers said.

Plants should be selected based on how well they can handle extreme conditions and how quickly they germinate. Shortlisted is an Australian grass species that can survive in a dormant state without water.

Caitlin Byrd of the Australian National University in Canberra said the project was also relevant to food security. If you can build a system to grow crops on the moon, “you could build one to grow food in some of the harshest environments on Earth,” the biologist explained.

© 2022 AFP