China harvested its first batch of “space rice” from seeds that returned from a lunar voyage last year, with scientists hoping it could help create new plant varieties and safeguard the country’s food security, reports Bloomberg.
The crop was grown from the 40 grams of seeds that traveled with the Chang’e-5 lunar probe in November, state television reported.
After being exposed to cosmic radiation and zero gravity, some seeds can mutate and produce higher yields when planted back on Earth.
More tests and plantings are needed to determine the best varieties that could be promoted nationwide to help improve China’s grain harvest.
