If the concept of lunar hummus appears far-fetched, assume once more. Scientists working to domesticate the sphere of extraterrestrial agriculture have grown chickpeas in grime made principally of simulated lunar soil, a step towards enabling astronauts on long-term moon missions to supply their very own meals.
Researchers mentioned harvestable chickpeas had been grown in soil mixtures composed primarily of “moon dirt” modelled after lunar samples retrieved throughout NASA’s Apollo missions greater than half a century in the past.
Chickpeas of a spread known as “Myles” had been raised in a climate-controlled development chamber at Texas A&M University. Seeds had been coated with useful fungi and planted in a mixture of the simulated lunar soil, made by Florida-based firm Space Resource Technologies, and a nutrient-rich substance known as vermicompost produced when earthworms break down natural waste.
A chickpea plant grows in a lunar soil simulant combination inside a climate-controlled development chamber at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S., in this undated handout. Photo: Jessica Atkin/Handout by way of Reuters
Harvestable chickpeas grew in soil mixtures of as much as 75% lunar simulant. As the proportion of simulated moon soil — generally known as regolith — elevated, the variety of harvestable chickpeas decreased, although the scale of the chickpeas remained secure. Seeds planted in 100% lunar simulant failed to supply flowers and seeds, experiencing early dying.
The United States and China have plans to ship astronauts again to the lunar floor in the approaching years, with a watch towards long-term bases on the moon.
“Chickpeas are high in protein and other essential nutrients, making them a strong candidate for space crop production,” mentioned Jessica Atkin, a doctoral candidate and NASA fellow at Texas A&M’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, lead creator of the analysis revealed on Thursday (March 5, 2026) in the journal Scientific Reports.
A neighborhood meals supply is taken into account very important to sustaining folks staffing moon bases due to the impracticality of transporting all wanted meals from Earth.
“In our goal toward establishing a lunar presence — or one on Mars — we will need to learn how to grow food on the moon, since it will not be sustainable to ship food in spaceships. This is because it is still quite expensive to ship things to space, so weight is a factor, and also because the survival of astronauts on the moon can’t be dependent on the timely shipment of supplies,” mentioned research co-author Sara Oliveira Santos, a postdoctoral researcher on the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.
Summary
Experiments concerned use of simulated lunar soil
Beneficial fungi and a worm byproduct had been added
Chickpeas grew in soil mixtures of as much as 75% regolith
“Plants would also help produce oxygen and enhance life-support systems for future human settlements,” mentioned astrobiologist Jyothi Basapathi Raghavendra of Northumbria University in England, lead creator of a second research revealed on Thursday (March 5, 2026) that examined rising situations for microbes in simulated Martian soil.
Moon soil is principally crushed rock and mud, typically sharp and glass-like, fashioned over billions of years by meteorite impacts. While it comprises important vitamins and minerals for vegetation to grow, it’s inorganic and inhospitable, not like the nutrient-rich and natural Earth soil.
The root of a chickpea plant grows in a lunar soil simulant combination inside a climate-controlled development chamber at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S., in this handout picture. Photo: Jessica Atkin/Handout by way of Reuters
“Previous studies have shown plants can germinate in authentic lunar samples or grow in regolith simulants, often by adding compost or other types of organic matter,” Ms. Atkin mentioned. “In this study, we focused on microorganisms. Instead of only adding organic material, we tested whether plant-microbe partnerships could help condition regolith, improve its structure and reduce plant stress.”
How do they style?
So what did these chickpeas style like? We have no idea but.
“The chickpeas are currently being tested for metal accumulation, which is why we haven’t eaten them just yet,” Ms. Atkin mentioned.
Lunar regolith and the simulant utilized by the researchers comprise excessive ranges of metals equivalent to aluminum and iron. Iron is a necessary nutrient for vegetation. Aluminum isn’t, and will be poisonous when consumed.
“Before anyone makes moon hummus, we need to confirm they are safe and nutritious. Those results will be published in a follow-up paper later this year,” Ms. Atkin mentioned.
The fungi used to coat the seeds labored symbiotically with the chickpeas, serving to the vegetation take in some important vitamins whereas lowering their uptake of heavy metals. The microorganisms efficiently colonised roots even in 100% regolith simulant and helped bind free particles, making regolith behave extra like Earth soil.
The researchers had some enjoyable in the laboratory. Ms. Atkin performed lunar-themed songs equivalent to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” to encourage the vegetation. Ms. Atkin additionally hung an image of chickpeas rising on the moon.
“Kind of silly, but something to aim for,” Ms. Atkin mentioned.
“This is a small first step toward growing crops on the moon,” Oliveira Santos mentioned, “but we have shown this is feasible and we are moving in the right direction.”
Published – March 10, 2026 12:01 pm IST
