Published on 27 November in New Phytologist, the study brings together more than 40 scientists from 11 countries and seven space agencies.
Among the most prominent contributors are researchers from the University of Melbourne and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, who helped define the plant science advances needed to build self-sustaining, plant-based life-support systems for deep-space missions. These systems would grow fresh food, purify air and water, and support astronaut health on future lunar and Martian bases.
A key innovation, led in part by Australian scientists, is a new Bioregenerative Life Support System Readiness Level framework. Expanding on NASA’s crop evaluation scale, the tool measures how effectively plants can recycle nutrients, generate oxygen, clean water and provide nutrition in space habitats – a crucial benchmark for mission planners.
The paper highlighted rapid developments in crop research for space, from synthetic biology to precision sensing and controlled-environment agriculture, many of which Australian teams are deeply involved in.
The study also identifies research priorities ahead of NASA’s Artemis III mission in 2027, when astronauts are due to return to the moon for the first time in more than half a century.
That mission includes the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora experiment, the first attempt to grow and return plants from the lunar surface and a project closely followed by Australian plant scientists.
University of Melbourne Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes, a co-author, worked with colleagues across the global consortium to test how plants could be engineered, adapted and monitored to survive lunar and Martian conditions.
“Space pushes us to design plant systems that are highly efficient, resilient and precisely monitored,” Fuentes said. “This work will help us grow food sustainably in drought-prone regions, cities and remote communities across Australia.”
Lead author Dr Luke Fountain, a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at the Kennedy Space Center, said Australia’s expertise was vital to the project.
“By learning to grow plants in space, we’re also improving the way we grow food on our own planet. Many of the technologies being advanced by Australian researchers will help tackle global challenges in food, energy and sustainability,” Fountain said.
Professor Matthew Gilliham, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space and another co-author, said Australia’s leadership in controlled-environment agriculture and space biology positioned it to benefit directly from the research.
“The innovations that will keep astronauts alive on the moon – closed-loop farming, recycling systems and ultra-efficient resource use – are exactly the technologies that will transform how Australia produces food and medicines anywhere, at any time of year,” Gilliham said.
The study builds on discussions at the International Space Life Sciences Working Group’s Plants for Space Exploration workshop, held during the 2024 European Low Gravity Research Association conference, where Australian contributions featured heavily.