Scientists from the United States and Brazil have published a review examining the potential role of fungi in enabling crop production on the Moon and Mars. The research, appearing in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, investigates how beneficial microorganisms could transform inhospitable planetary regolith into environments capable of supporting plant growth.
Lunar and Martian regolith presents significant challenges for agriculture because it lacks essential nutrients that plants require, particularly nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. The researchers focused their analysis on how certain fungi might address these nutritional deficiencies and help establish more practical approaches to space farming.
One promising group of fungi identified in the review is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), organisms that have been used in botanical applications since the mid-19th century. These fungi form partnerships with plant roots and function as microscopic extensions of root systems, enabling plants to reach and absorb nutrients more efficiently. The review also examined other fungal species that have demonstrated success in supporting plant growth under stress conditions, including varieties that have already been tested aboard the International Space Station.
While the potential applications are significant, the researchers acknowledge that additional research is necessary before this approach can be implemented in actual space farming systems. Future studies will need to evaluate how well these fungi perform when combined with real lunar and Martian regolith rather than simulated materials. The team suggests that if proven effective, fungi could enable astronauts to produce larger and more reliable crops on other celestial bodies while decreasing reliance on food shipments from Earth, potentially supporting the establishment of permanent human settlements beyond our planet.
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