SELF Forum: Exploring the Unkown

Crops Mutated in Space to Stave Global Hunger

Zhu Lin, a start-up entrepreneur from Beijing in the agriculture business [Photo provided by SELF Forum]

When countries reject or ban genetically modified foods over safety concerns, agricultural companies often turn to developing new strains using space mutation breeding. By carrying seeds, including those of green pepper, melon and tomato, into outer space, new plant varieties are created with better yields due to naturally occurring mutations when they are exposed to space conditions, explained Zhu.

Zhu believes that space mutation breeding could solve hunger and malnutrition on earth. If legalized and put into effect, space mutation breeding would help us to effectively manage the global food system.