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Scientists Are Trying to Grow Mushrooms in Space — Here's Why That Matters

Key points Scientists are testing whether oyster mushrooms can grow and fruit in space as part of Mission MushVroom. Mushrooms offer key advantages for space food, including compact growth and high nutrition. Unlike many Earth-bound crops, mushrooms require little space, minimal water, and no sunlight to grow. They are fully edible, rich in nutrients like B vitamins, selenium, and copper. If mushrooms can thrive in confined, resource-limited space environments, the technology and insights could be applied to urban farming on Earth. Most of us struggle to keep a basil plant alive — but scientists are now trying to grow mushrooms in space. A new experiment, Mission MushVroom, is testing whether oyster mushrooms can fruit in microgravity. If it works, it could change what astronauts eat — and how we grow food on Earth. Led by space nutritionist and FOODiQ Global CEO Dr. Flávia Fayet-Moore, Mission MushVroom is part of SpaceX's Fram2 mission and aims to explore mushrooms as a viable space crop. The team prepared colonized substrate blocks and mycelium tubes to observe how oyster mushrooms colonize and potentially fruit in space. "Edible mushrooms like oyster offer unique agricultural applications and nutritional benefits—making them the perfect space crop," said Fayet-Moore. "They grow rapidly in small spaces, need minimal resources like water, and don't require sunlight to grow. Plus, they're fully edible and help close the loop in plant agriculture." Related: How to Wash Mushrooms, According to a Farmer Unlike many Earth-bound crops, mushrooms fit the "grow, pick, and eat." model—ideal for space missions without cooking facilities. They're also a nutritional powerhouse, providing B vitamins, selenium, copper, and even an umami flavor that holds up well in space. Remarkably, mushrooms are the only non-animal food that can produce vitamin D—making them especially valuable for astronauts. "What's exciting about mushrooms is that they can produce 100% of an astronaut's daily vitamin D requirement in just about 100 grams," Fayet-Moore explained. "That's significant in space, where vitamin D is the only supplement currently given to astronauts in low Earth orbit." The team is not only observing whether mushrooms can fruit in space but also investigating potential physical, biochemical, or genetic differences compared to Earth-grown fungi. Beyond this specific mission, the implications are far-reaching." If we can grow mushrooms and other crops in these confined, controlled environments, it could help advance urban agriculture here on Earth," Fayet-Moore said. "As we face the challenge of feeding 10 billion people by 2050, this kind of research could be game-changing." From freeze-drying to food safety protocols, the space sector has long influenced how we eat. Mushrooms may just be the next frontier—bridging planetary exploration with planetary survival. Read the original article on Food & Wine