Seeds in Space: India’s Homegrown Crops Begin a Cosmic Experiment

Green gram and fenugreek seeds from UAS Bangalore and IIT Dharwad have made their way to the International Space Station. The goal? See how Indian crops behave in zero gravity. This is part of India’s growing interest in space farming, and it’s getting serious support from top research institutions.

 

Key highlights:

 

- The seeds launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 26, via the Axiom-4 mission.

- Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will hydrate the seeds in orbit. They’re expected to sprout within 2 to 4 days.

- Once grown, the sprouts will be frozen and sent back for side-by-side comparison with Earth-grown controls.

- Scientists will study growth patterns, nutrient shifts, and microbial responses.

- The project is led by Prof. Ravikumar Hosamani (UAS) and Prof. Sudheer Siddapureddy (IIT Dharwad).

 

Why these seeds? They’re nutrient-rich, easy to grow, and familiar to Indian diets—making them strong candidates for longer space missions. The hope is to create a viable Indian menu for astronauts that’s fresh and sustainable.

 

It’s a small bag of seeds, but a big step for India’s space ambitions. The research could lay the groundwork for growing food on future moon or Mars missions—and it also raises questions about how far India can push its biotech and space science together.

 

Source: The Hindu, Times of India, The New Indian Express