Space GMOs

Genetically Modified Crops for the Spaceflight environment...What?!

Let's face it... in order for humans to live in deep space, humanity is going to need tap into new technologies to make that possible. We'll need crops with fortified nutrients, higher yields, disease resistance, increased shelf life, and more resiliency to the stressors of being in space. Most importantly, those solutions can be applied here on earth. With the growing world population and climate change climate, scientists and farmers are going to have to do things a bit differently than just conventional plant breeding.

I know, I know--Aren't GMOs bad?

No, not all GMOs are made equally. GMOs got a bad rap when the technology was being used to make crops resistant to herbicides. This allowed farmers to spray herbicides that only target the unwanted plants, aka weeds, thus alleviate farmers from having to till their fields. It turns out the herbicide was really the danger in the situation, not the plants.

Take a look below at some examples of genetically modified crops we could use in space.

Tomatoes with more edible fruit than biomass

These tomatoes could be vertical farmer's new best friend, though I feel they would look better in space. With a low number of leaves and stems, aka the biomass, these plants can deliver high yields of fruit in a small space... like a space station!*

Learn more here: Astronauts might soon grow SPACE tomatoes | News (ucr.edu)

*Not available in grocery stores

Cancer Reducing tomatoes

These purple tomatoes pack a punch! They're chalk full of anthocyanins, the pigment that makes them so purple, are a natural antioxidant found throughout the plant kingdom. Remarkably, mice fed these tomatoes had lower cancer rates and longer life spans. Astronauts of the future may be eating pasta with purple spaghetti sauce.*

Learn more here: Superfoods: Genetically modified purple tomato could go on sale soon in the US | New Scientist Oh, and Dr. Martin also has genetically engineered a Vitamin D fortified tomato: Tomatoes gene-edited to provide more vitamin D - CNN*

*Both could be on the market in the coming year!

GABA fortified tomatoes

It's the first CRISPR-edited food to hit the market. Grocery shoppers can find them on the shelves in Japan! These tomatoes are genetically edited to contain high amounts of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which can help support lower blood pressure and promote relaxation.*

Learn more here: GABA-enriched tomato is first CRISPR-edited food to enter market (nature.com)

*Only on the market in Japan :(

So what GMOs are approved to be sold in grocery stores here in the US?

Well, the small list may surprise you. With hefty regulatory fees and consumer opinions swayed by the Non-GMO Project, many of these revolutionary crops never make it to market.

The bottom line: If we want to have a sustained human presence in space, or even here on spaceship earth, we'll need to learn to trust genetically modified crops.

Interested in joining the Space GMO movement? Sign up below.

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