For any astronauts hoping to survive on the surface of Mars, growing crops in the arid soil of the red planet will be an essential.
Now researchers have shown that it is not only possible to grow vegetables in soil similar to that found on Mars, but they are also safe to eat.
Scientists at the Wageningen University in the Netherlands were able to achieve abundant harvests of ten different crops including radishes, peas, tomatoes, cress, rocket and rye.
Tests showed the plants contained ‘no dangerous levels’ of heavy metals and the researchers declared the results as ‘promising’.
It suggests that it may indeed be possible for astronauts hoping to emulate Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, in the Martain by growing their food on the alien world.
Although the researches did not use actual Martian soil, they used dirt from Earth to create a mix that was as close to that found on the surface of Mars as possible.