Ladakh’s Super Seeds Soar to Space: ISS Experiment Eyes Future Food!
Seabuckthorn and buckwheat seeds from Ladakh join global experiment on NASA’s Crew-11 mission to the ISS.
Seeds of seabuckthorn and Himalayan tartary buckwheat, cultivated in the rugged cold desert of Ladakh, are now orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Crew-11 mission. Launched from Florida on Friday and docked to the ISS on Saturday, these seeds are included in a pioneering experiment led by US-based bioastronautics firm Jaguar Space, aimed at exploring their potential for space agriculture.
The initiative, dubbed the "Emerging Space Nation's Space for Agriculture & Agriculture for Space" payload, involves seeds from 11 nations across five continents. Sourced by Bengaluru-based space startup Protoplanet, the nutrient-rich, gluten-free seabuckthorn and Himalayan tartary buckwheat seeds will be exposed to microgravity conditions for a week. “We will study how the seeds react to microgravity and their potential use as a food source for long-duration space missions,” said Siddharth Pandey, Director of Protoplanet.
The World Seeds study, led by Jaguar Space, investigates how seeds respond to the unique stresses of the space environment, focusing on gene activation and metabolic pathways critical for germination. This research could unlock the potential of these species for future space agriculture, supporting long-term human space exploration.
The seeds, which include varieties from nations like the Maldives, Argentina, Brazil, and Pakistan, will return to Earth later this month with NASA’s Crew-10 mission. Indian researchers will then analyze the seeds to assess their viability for space-based food production.
Dr. Luis Zea, Founder of Jaguar Space, emphasized the experiment’s broader significance: “This payload advances research on climate resilience and global food security while ensuring that humanity’s spacefaring journey carries forward the biodiversity and cultural heritage of global communities.” The inclusion of Ladakh’s resilient seeds marks a proud moment for India’s contribution to space exploration and sustainable agriculture.
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