South Africa’s distinctive indigenous rooibos plant is preparing to leave the planet – heading all the way to space.
In October, rooibos seeds are scheduled to travel to the International Space Station, where they will be exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation before returning to Earth. Scientists will compare them with control seeds to determine how the conditions affect their germination and growth.
The project, involving the South African Rooibos Council, MaxIQ Space and the South African National Space Agency, brings together plant science, space research, agriculture and education. Seven schools in the Cederberg region, local farms and Parklands College are also participating.
The space mission could also boost tourism in the Cederberg, where rooibos is grown. Prof Martinette Kruger of North-West University’s Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society research unit says the plant could become a destination brand in its own right.
“Rooibos is much more than a beverage; it is a destination brand because it can only be produced in one small part of the world. Visitors are increasingly looking for authentic, place-based experiences that cannot be replicated elsewhere,” she says.
