NASA cooperates with Peru to implement a potato planting project in the Mars environment

The International Potato Research and Development Center (CIP) and the US Aerospace Agency (NASA) have just begun a project to grow and harvest this food crop in a simulated environment. Mars right on Earth. The project is not only a big step toward the prospect of building a controlled cultivation dome on the red planet but also demonstrating the potential of growing potatoes in harsh environments on Earth to solve problems. Future food issues.

If you want to settle on Mars, the first thing to deal with is food.

If humans someday invade Mars, the first thing to think about is how to create a long-term food source. There have been many proposals aimed at cultivating and harvesting food crops on Mars, but in order to realize, we need more preparation. CIP - an organization in Peru planned for this, they decided to use the soil taken from the desert of Pampas de La Joya - very arid soil that is thought to be similar to the soil on Mars and planted in the lips Experimental field simulates the gas conditions of the red planet with 95% CO2.

Besides the goal of overcoming the challenge of growing potato crops on another planet Earth, the CIP and NASA projects also aim to create an impact and enhance our awareness of fertility. Surprising head of this plant.

Potato growth in harsh climates will help solve food problems.(Photo: CIP) .

More than 842 million people are currently affected by global hunger. The team believes that potato's ability to grow in harsh climates will help solve the problem of food, minimizing that number. Moreover, potatoes can not only grow well in difficult conditions but also bring high yields (2 to 4 times higher than normal grain crops) and extremely nutritious. When it contains abundant sources of iron, zinc, vitamin C . Joel Ranck from CIP said: "We need to help people understand that if we can grow potatoes in extreme conditions like on Mars, we can save millions of people on Earth. ".