Microgravity-Simulation of Plant Growth and its Implications to the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The effectiveness of agricultural enhancement in transforming the world cannot be overemphasized. In line with novel technology in the field of agriculture, the space-industry plays a very significant role in agricultural research and development. Among others, the microgravity-environment is increasingly being seen as having impact on plant development and yield. Hence, the reason why plants are grown and monitored under microgravity-environment to verify their effectiveness both on Earth and beyond. Discussed is an experimental example of plant growth using Clinostat which was done at the Microgravity-Simulation Laboratory, Engineering and Space Systems Department, National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria. The Clinostat is an equipment for simulation of microgravity effect in an Earth-laboratory.. Growing plants under microgravity is to enable fundamental research on gravity perception and transduction during growth and development of plants. The United Nations in 2015 did set a couple of global goals with the sole objective of positively transforming the world. These goals are referred to as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).. This study explores the contribution of microgravity-simulation to the attainment of some of the SDGs. The research done is mostly in-line with the Zero-Hunger SDG. This work evaluates the effect of microgravity-simulation on okra development and yield. This research will also spur more research in the field of microgravity-simulation. The average growth rate of okra seeds under the Earth’s gravity was 3.07mm/hr while seeds under microgravity-simulations was 3.50mm/hr which means there was an increased growth rate of okra under simulated microgravity by 14.01%.