In a major milestone for Nigerian space science and agricultural research, six indigenous crop seeds have been launched into space aboard NASA’s Crew-11 Mission, marking the country’s first biological payload participation in a crewed international spaceflight.
The seeds, okra, cowpea, guinea corn (sorghum), amaranth, maize, and melon , were carefully selected for their nutritional value and climate adaptability. They will now orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the World Seeds Payload, a multinational space agriculture initiative led by Jaguar Space, with contributions from 11 countries, including Nigeria.
The announcement was made in a statement by Dr. Felix Ale, Director of Media at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The launch took place today, July 31, 2025, from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
“This is a historic first for Nigeria,” said Dr. Ale, highlighting that it is the first time NASRDA is participating in a crewed NASA mission involving biological samples. “The goal is to explore how indigenous crops respond to microgravity, with implications for climate resilience, food security, and the future of space agriculture.”
Olayinka Fagbemiro, Assistant Director of International Cooperation & Linkages at NASRDA, is the project lead and is representing Nigeria at the launch. She spearheaded the selection, documentation, and logistics of the seed shipment, which followed a formal Memorandum of Understanding between NASRDA and Jaguar Space.
This mission builds on years of local research at NASRDA’s Department of Physical and Life Sciences, where scientists have studied plant behavior in simulated microgravity conditions. The space-based experiment will now test these crops in real orbital conditions, opening new frontiers in both scientific knowledge and agricultural innovation.
The World Seeds Payload is being celebrated as a culturally inclusive, globally collaborative effort, aiming to develop sustainable life systems beyond Earth, with Nigeria now firmly in the mix.
Dr. Ale notes that the mission also validates years of domestic research on plant responses in simulated microgravity, carried out by NASRDA’s Department of Physical and Life Sciences.
The experiment’s results could have far-reaching implications, helping scientists understand how to grow food in extreme environments, on Earth and beyond, and contributing to a more food-secure future in the face of climate change.
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