Hokkaido University’s Tomomichi Fujita Laboratory has begun joint research aimed at cultivating plants in space, growing plants in a simulated low-gravity environment, and exploring changes at the genome level.

April 19, 2024

We are pleased to announce that we have commenced a project in collaboration with the Graduate School of Science at Hokkaido University and the Tomomichi Fujita Laboratory to study plant mechanisms in a Mars-like environment and to work towards the practical application of this research (the Terraforming Project).

 

Background of the Joint Research

In an era where space development and business are gaining momentum—fueled by advancements in satellite earth observation, communication, and positioning services, as well as ambitious endeavors like the manned lunar exploration “Artemis” program—the possibility of humans residing in space for extended periods is becoming increasingly tangible within the coming decades.

Yet, the challenge of transporting food to space remains, burdened by exorbitant costs and logistical limitations. This has spurred efforts to develop the necessary technology and systems for food production at space stations like the ISS, or on extraterrestrial bodies such as the Moon and Mars.

Private companies and research institutions seeking to participate in space are also highly interested in plant cultivation under microgravity or lunar gravity. However, in the 16 years since the start of operations of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the ISS in 2008, only 12 themes of plant physiological experiments have been conducted under microgravity. Most of these have been experiments during the germination phase or with young plant bodies, leading to a very limited understanding of the relationship between plant cultivation and gravity.

Consequently, DigitalBlast has embarked on a collaborative venture with the Graduate School of Science at Hokkaido University and the Tomomichi Fujita Laboratory. This partnership leverages the laboratory’s extensive expertise in plant development research and environmental response, coupled with their experience in conducting space experiments. The aim is to acquire fundamental insights into plant cultivation, which are essential for enabling food production in space.

 

Joint Research Theme and Content

〈Theme〉

Aiming to elucidate the gravity response mechanisms at the cellular and individual levels of the moss Physcomitrella patens under simulated weak gravity conditions of the Moon and Mars.

〈Research Purpose〉

By establishing an environment that mimics weak gravity and cultivating plants within it, our objective is to identify novel gene clusters that play a pivotal role in growth regulation. We will delve into their regulatory networks to demystify the molecular mechanisms that govern growth regulation influenced by gravity. Ultimately, we aim to thoroughly comprehend the plant’s gravity response control system.

〈Research Content〉

Extraterrestrial environments such as the Moon and Mars have weaker gravity than 1G. Previous hypergravity cultivation experiments and microgravity (μG) space cultivation experiments using the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the ISS have revealed the existence of transcription factors that may increase photosynthetic activity and growth volume (biomass) depending on the magnitude of gravity. In this study, by developing new 3D-clinostat control technology, we will cause deviations equivalent to 1/6G of the Moon’s gravity or 1/3G of Mars’ gravity, examine the functions and mechanisms of action of these transcription factors in detail, elucidate their molecular control mechanisms, and work on evaluating the effects on plants in agricultural activities on the lunar surface.

A depiction of Mars, where moss growth and human activities have commenced as a result of terraforming efforts.

 

The concept of terraforming, which includes projects like the greening of deserts, holds the potential to be repurposed for addressing environmental challenges here on Earth.

 

Regarding Professor Tomomichi Fujita from Hokkaido University

Professor Tomomichi Fujita is a distinguished faculty member at the Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the School of Education at Waseda University in 1988, followed by a Master’s degree in Correlated Physicochemical Sciences from the University of Tokyo in 1990, culminating in a Ph.D. in the same discipline in 1993. His illustrious career includes tenures at the National Institute of Preventive Hygiene (now known as the National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Purdue University in the USA, and Kyoto University, leading to his current appointment in 2016. Professor Fujita’s research transcends traditional botany, exploring the cultivation of plants in the extraterrestrial environment of space. He is particularly focused on pioneering research that utilizes the robust stress resistance of moss plants to facilitate the greening of Earth and other celestial bodies.

 

Future Prospects

This research aims to obtain fundamental knowledge necessary for cultivating plants that will serve as food for humanity on planets other than Earth, such as the moon or Mars, by clarifying the response of plants in a weak gravity environment at the genome level. Furthermore, we are considering developing plants that grow faster in 1G on Earth, in microgravity (μG) in space stations, and in weak gravity (1/6G on the moon, 1/3G on Mars) by artificially manipulating this gene control system. Additionally, we hope that this research will stimulate interest and curiosity among researchers and private companies, increase the demand for the private use of the ISS and “Kibo”, advance space botany, and eventually lead to the development of plant cultivation (terraforming) under Martian conditions.

*1 Terraforming: Refers to the process of altering the environment of a celestial body other than Earth to make it suitable for human survival. The technology for environmental modification can also be applied to solving Earth’s environmental problems, such as greening.

*2 3D Clinostat: A device that changes the gravity environment by continuously changing the direction of gravity through three-dimensional rotation. By changing the rotation trajectory, it is possible to create any desired gravity environment, such as simulated microgravity (μG).