In outer space, food supplies comprise a significant portion of the cargo load on any manned spacecraft. These supplies can only last so long - and therefore it is necessary to learn to grow food in the conditions of space. Although air pressure and composition will be very similar on a spacecraft as on Earth, any food grown in space will have to deal with zero-gravity and possible acceleration and deceleration of the spacecraft. Just like animals, any such food will be grown with a lower metabolism rate unless an artificial gravitational field is used.
The first food grown in space was a small sample of Romaine lettuce that was grown and eaten on August 10th, 2015. A certain amount of nutrient-high soil is necessary for the plants to grow properly, and in an interstellar flight, this soil outweighs the food produced by its nutrients. Experiments to grow food in space are still in their preliminary stages, but once NASA discovers a way to avoid this problem less supplies might be needed in future space flights due to the future use of new agricultural techniques.
The first food grown in space was a small sample of Romaine lettuce that was grown and eaten on August 10th, 2015. A certain amount of nutrient-high soil is necessary for the plants to grow properly, and in an interstellar flight, this soil outweighs the food produced by its nutrients. Experiments to grow food in space are still in their preliminary stages, but once NASA discovers a way to avoid this problem less supplies might be needed in future space flights due to the future use of new agricultural techniques.