By Kurtis Archer | 2025-11-12

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla spent the final days of his Axiom-4 mission assignment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) cultivating plants in orbit as part of a space food experiment.

ISRO and the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology's Department of Biotechnology worked together, with support from NASA, to develop the experiment, which aims to help scientists understand plant growth in space.

The research has the potential to feed future astronauts.

The experiment, conducted in July, involved the germination of moong (Green gram) and methi (Fenugreek) seeds, which are staples of Indian cuisine that have well-documented health benefits.

Dry seeds were sent into space in 12 four-gram containers.

Shukla watered and tended the seeds in petri dishes in the ISS's Life Sciences Glovebox, an enclosed workbench-style research area developed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, recording their germination on camera.

The sprouted seeds were then frozen and returned to Earth for study, according to Indian news site The Federal.

The experiment is a collaborative effort between Indian research institutions to study seed germination and early plant development in microgravity conditions.

It is led by assistant professor Ravikumar Hosamani of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, in the Indian state of Karnataka, and associate professor Sudheer Siddapureddy of the Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad.

The plants sprouted in space will be cultivated on Earth over several generations to see how the space environment may have affected their genetics, nutritional value, and more.

"I am so proud that ISRO has been able to collaborate with national institutions all over the country and come up with some fantastic research," Shukla told Axiom Space chief scientist Lucie Low.

"It is exciting and a joy to do this," he said, stressing that the research conducted on the ISS is for the benefit of "all the scientists and researchers."

"It has been fantastic," he said. "I feel proud to be this kind of a bridge between the researchers and the station and do the research on behalf of them."

World-class scientific tools

The Department of Biotechnology indigenously developed the biotechnology kits used in the microgravity experiment conducted during the Axiom-4 mission.

The experiment demonstrates India's capacity to provide world-class scientific tools for cutting-edge research and highlights its increasing self-reliance in space and biotechnology efforts.

Shukla also worked with microalgae aboard the ISS, which has the potential to produce food, oxygen and even biofuels in space.

"Microalgae grow rapidly, produce high-protein biomass, absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen," India’s Union Minister for Department of Space Jitendra Singh said ahead of the mission.

This makes them "perfect candidates for sustainable space nutrition and closed-loop life support systems," he said. "These organisms could be the key to carbon and nitrogen recycling in spacecraft and future space habitats."

Shukla also contributed to a crop seed experiment with half a dozen plant varieties that will be grown over many generations.

"One particular research I am really excited about is stem cell research where scientists are trying to explore whether it is possible to accelerate recovery or growth or repair injury by adding supplements to stem cells," he said.

Self-sustaining life support systems

A joint working group (JWG) between ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology to cooperate on future projects has discussed a joint Announcement of Opportunity in space biotech, Singh said in May.

This highlights "challenges and pathways for in-space manufacturing, bio-regenerative systems, and extra-terrestrial biomanufacturing for long-term missions," he said, solidifying India’s plans for scientific space innovation.

After returning to Earth, Shukla met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared stories of his space farming experiences.

The astronaut pointed out that food is a challenge for orbital stations with their limited space and cost of cargo.

Shukla said he hoped his experiments would address food security concerns and provide self-sustaining life support systems, not only in space but also for people on Earth.

Space farming is expected to generate technologies that can be used on Earth to reduce water and energy use and make food production more efficient and sustainable.