IIST Sends Seeds Into Space! Will You Be Preparing for Space Farming Now?
Imagine if humans build a base on the Moon or Mars in the future. So how to get food there? There won't be a grocery store. So what can be the solution? Space Farming! And working on this futuristic idea, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram sent seeds of certain Indian crops to the International Space Station (ISS), which were exposed to a microgravity environment. Now those seeds have been brought back to Earth – and an amazing study will start to find out whether the space environment makes any difference to the growth and quality of crops.
This blog is also for students, researchers, and space lovers who are excited by the fusion of farming and space.
Who Started This Mission?
The Space Biology Lab at IIST started this experiment under the 'Crop Seeds on ISS' project. ISRO's Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) collaborated, and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) provided the seeds.
The Principal Investigator of the project is Professor K.G. Sreejalakshmi (IIST).
The MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed in May 2025, where the official agreement was signed by IIST Vice-Chancellor Dr. Dipankar Banerjee and HSFC Director D.K. Singh.
Which Seeds Went to Space?
These carefully selected high-quality varieties of Indian crops were sent:
- Jyothi (Rice)
- Uma (Rice)
- Kanakamani (Horse gram / Kulthi Dal)
- Vellayani Vijay (Tomato)
- Thilakathra (Sesame)
- Sun (Brinjal / Eggplant)
All these seeds were packed in dry form and sent to ISS where they stayed in microgravity for a few days.
How Did the Seeds Go?
The seeds were taken under the Axiom-4 mission, in which an Indian astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, was also onboard. He completed 7 microgravity experiments at the ISS – one of the major experiments being the seed project.
The astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission are now back on Earth, and IIST has confirmed that the seeds will reach Thiruvananthapuram soon.
What Will Happen Now – Post-Flight Study?
After the seeds come back, field experiments will begin to observe what changes occurred after exposure to space:
- Any difference in growth speed?
- Changes in height or plant structure?
- Impact on flowering or fruiting?
- Difference in nutrition level?
- Effect on taste or color?
IIST and Kerala Agricultural University will conduct a comparative study on three seed groups:
- Space-returned seeds
- Earth-based same seeds
- Control sample (normal condition)
These comparisons will show what unique impact the conditions of space had on the seeds.
Why Is This Experiment So Important?
If you're wondering "what is the benefit of farming in space?", here are some reasons:
- Essential for Future Space Missions: Building a base on Mars or Moon requires local food production.
- Understanding Microgravity: Studying seed behavior in gravity-free environments is crucial for future agriculture in space.
- Improvement in Earth Farming: Natural changes from space exposure could help develop new high-yield or climate-resistant varieties.
Why Did India Do This?
This is a visionary step. India has top-level organizations in both space science (ISRO/IIST) and agriculture. By combining both, India is entering the new domain of space agriculture. This mission shows India's commitment not just to satellites and rockets, but to food security in space as well.
Fun Fact
NASA has grown lettuce, wheat, and radish on the ISS before – but India's seeds were sent for the first time. This marks a milestone for Indian agricultural science.
What Can We Learn?
This mission shows that science and imagination together can achieve anything. If today's students take interest in space science, agriculture, botany, or biotechnology, this can be a booming career path. Who knows, your farm could be on the Moon tomorrow!
Final Thoughts
This project by IIST is not just a scientific experiment, but a futuristic vision. Space is not only for exploration, but also for survival and self-sustainability. India has taken the first step forward. Now it will be interesting to see what kind of fruits the seeds from space bring.
How did you like this blog? If you want more interesting blogs related to space or science, don’t forget to comment!
