China's "Space Greenhouse" Ready for New Planting Projects

The China Manned Space Agency is seeking space breeding experimental projects, signaling the expansion of China's "space greenhouse" and the potential for new varieties of crops. Over recent years, space breeding has significantly increased the variety of crops, with staple crops, vegetables, grass, flowers, and Chinese herbal seeds all experiencing enhanced yields and quality. Furthermore, the space station completed in 2021 has entered the application and development phase, carrying a large number of biological samples to obtain space mutagenesis under cosmic radiation in the microgravity environment during spaceflight. These activities have resulted in the discovery of important mutant strains with scientific research value and application potential, contributing to the development of food security and ecological civilization in China. Additionally, space breeding has led to the production of over 240 improved varieties of staple crops and enhanced grain production by about 1.6 billion kilograms, ultimately benefitting farmers and consumers. As new varieties with new traits and tastes continue to emerge, the lives of people will be enriched, ensuring the safety of space-bred food.