EMERGING SPACE NATIONS' SPACE FOR AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURE FOR SPACE

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This payload is actually a collection of 11 unique payloads, each containing seeds from an emerging space nation selected either by that country's space agency, government, or a leading space science institute or university,  and reflect the country's cultural heritage, economic priorities, and agricultural identity.

The name of the unified payload reflects its dual mission: to harness space for generating novel knowledge that may benefit life on Earth—such as improving food security and adapting to climate change—while also honoring the diverse cultural perspectives that shape our relationship with plants, nutrition, and the natural world. As humanity steps into the era of space exploration, this project ensures that the botanical and cultural legacy of every corner of the globe has a place in our shared future beyond Earth.

This is a Jaguar Space initiative, as we live our  raison d'être of providing access to space to all regions of the world. 

Here are the countries, organization behind each of the 11 payloads, and the seeds they selected:

• Argentina - Argentinian Space Agency (CONAE) - Peanut (Arachis hypogeaea)
• Brazil with Florida (USA) - The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and The University of Florida - Orchid (Epidendrum nocturnum), Jingle bell orchid (Dendrophylax porrectum), Perennial grass (Paspalum notatum), and Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) 
• Costa Rica - Universidad de Costa Rica - Sweet Pepper and Tomato (UCR pest-resistant strains)
• India - Protoplanet - Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) and Himalayan Tartary (Fagopyrum tataricum) 
• Maldives - Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) - Mangrove (Avicennia marina)
• Guatemala - National Secretariat of Science and Technology (SENACYT) and Guatemalan Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (ICTA) - Maize (Zea mays L.  and Zea luxurians (Durieu & Asch.) R.M.Bird) 
• Nigeria - Nigerian Space Agency (NASRDA) -   Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus), Cowpea Beans (Vigna unguiculata), Sorghum “Guinea corn” (Sorghum bicolor), Groundnut “Peanut” (Arachis hypogaea), Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), and Maize (Zea mays) 
• Armenia - The Karman Project & Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian - Pomegranate (Punica granatum) 
• Egypt - The Karman Project & Sara Sabry (Deep Space Initiative) -  Egyptian Cotton (Gossypium barbadense) 
• Pakistan - The Karman Project & Mahhad Nayyer - Wheat (Triticum aestivum) 
• Nigeria - The Karman Project & Temidayo Oniosun (Space in Africa) -  Egusi Melon (Citrullus lanatus var. Colocynthoides) 

This investigation will examine how seeds react to the unique stresses of the space environment before they begin to grow, focusing on fundamental processes such as the activation of genes and metabolic pathways essential for germination. The selected seeds are crucial to the agricultural, economic, and ecological systems of emerging spacefaring nations. As such, the study aims to generate new knowledge towards enhancing crop resilience, advancing seed preservation techniques, and driving innovations in agriculture that could benefit both space missions and Earth-based farming. This experiment explores the potential of previously unexamined species to contribute to future space agriculture initiatives. Integrating crops native to emerging space nations is crucial for fostering sustainable human exploration, enhancing nutritional diversity, and promoting cultural representation as humanity expands its presence in space. 

Exposure to microgravity induces the emergence of novel molecular pathways in plants, which may have significant implications for growth, stress responses, and ecosystem applications. 

(i) To assess the suitability of plant species from emerging space nations for nutritional and functional applications in long-term human space exploration. (ii) To identify and characterize novel molecular pathways activated in response to microgravity and evaluate their potential relevance to agriculture, seed storage, and ecosystem sustainability on Earth. 

(i) cultural, nutritional, and culinary representation of emerging space nations as humanity expands its presence in space. (ii) Discovery of molecular pathways with applications that address global challenges, including achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals such as zero hunger, innovation in industry and infrastructure, and fostering international partnerships.