Abstract
The need for substantial food production for astronauts in space has significantly increased due to prolonged space exploration missions. Microgreens, the miniature version of a mature plant, have a short production cycle, with young and tender shoots, gaining attention due to their vibrant color and unique taste. Due to their quick growth, they allow for crop rotation, which fulfills the requirement of fresh food for astronauts and helps in alleviating space-induced fatigue as well as offering psychological benefits. They are an ideal option for substituting packaged food, as they offer abundant nutrients, palatability, variety, and safety to astronauts. Besides advantages, there are several challenges that need to be considered for growing microgreens, like growth conditions, microgravity, ionizing radiation, and lightning conditions. The intake of microgreens can prevent several space-induced diseases, as they are the richest source of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. This review article explores the scope and suitability of microgreens for astronauts in improving their diet as well as overall health status.
doi: 10.17756/jfcn.2023-s1-027
Citation: Dawra M, Kaur J, Rasane P, Bhadariya V. 2023. Sowing Health Beyond Earth: The Scope of Microgreens as Space Food for Astronauts. J Food Chem Nanotechnol 9(S1): S211-S216.
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