Nigerian indigenous crop seeds soar to space in NASA mission

By Chinenye Anuforo

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone in international space research, participating in the historic Crew-11 Mission launched today from the NASA Kennedy Space Centre. This mission carries the groundbreaking World Seeds Payload, an international agricultural experiment that includes Nigeria’s valuable contribution of six indigenous crop seeds.

Spearheaded by Jaguar Space, the World Seeds Payload involves eleven nations, each contributing to a vital study aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Nigeria’s selected seeds—okra, cowpea, Guinea corn (sorghum), amaranth, maize, and melon—were chosen for their critical nutritional and agricultural importance. These seeds will undergo rigorous study in microgravity to understand their behaviour, with the aim of advancing research in climate resilience, global food security, and the long-term viability of agriculture in space.

Representing NASRDA at the launch is Olayinka Fagbemiro, Assistant Director of the International Cooperation & Linkages Department and Nigeria’s Project Lead for this initiative. Ms. Fagbemiro has been instrumental in the project, overseeing seed selection, meticulous documentation, logistics coordination, and serving as the institutional representative from the initial planning stages through to today’s launch. The seeds were formally delivered to the United States following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASRDA and Jaguar Space.

This marks a monumental first for NASRDA, as it is the inaugural instance of Nigeria’s biological payload being flown aboard a crewed NASA mission to the ISS. This participation underscores NASRDA’s unwavering commitment to leveraging space science for sustainable development and fostering global scientific collaboration.

The mission also provides NASRDA with a unique opportunity to validate years of internal research conducted by its Department of Physical and Life Sciences on similar seeds under simulated gravity conditions. The World Seeds Payload stands as a testament to inclusive, culturally grounded space research, highlighting the pivotal leadership role that emerging space nations like Nigeria are poised to play in shaping humanity’s future beyond Earth.