How might we feed ourselves on the Moon? Researchers are experimenting in the lab with chickpeas grown in lunar dust. Early results suggest that plants may be able to thrive even under extreme conditions.
The idea sounds like science fiction: chickpeas cultivated on the dusty surface of the Moon. Yet researchers at the University of Texas have now demonstrated in a laboratory experiment that this could indeed be possible. In a simulated lunar environment, the legumes — valued on Earth as small protein powerhouses — managed to grow under unusual conditions, thanks to a mixture of lunar dust, worm compost and symbiotic fungi.
With the Artemis mission, humans are expected to return to the Moon by 2028. In the long term, NASA plans to establish a sustainable lunar base. Astronauts would not only live, research and work there but would increasingly need to provide their own food, as deliveries from Earth would be costly, complex and logistically risky. Research like this provides valuable insights into how food might one day be grown directly on the lunar surface.
Lunar regolith — the fine dust and rock covering the Moon’s surface — contains minerals but no organic nutrients. It also includes heavy metals that can be toxic to plants. The solution comes from the soil of Earth: compost worms, specifically Eisenia fetida. They transform organic material into nutrient-rich humus and make the dust more suitable for plant growth. In the future, even waste such as food scraps or worn textiles could potentially be converted into nutrients for lunar harvests.
Before sowing, the chickpeas were treated with arbuscular mycorrhiza, a type of symbiotic fungus. These fungi live in plant roots, improve nutrient absorption and filter heavy metals from the soil. Acting as invisible allies, they support plant growth and increase the chances that crops can bear fruit even in extreme substrates.
In experiments with up to 75 percent regolith content, the chickpeas grew and produced harvestable seeds. Higher concentrations, however, caused stress: shoots died prematurely, leaves discoloured and growth slowed significantly. The fungi survived several growth cycles, which could make future cultivation easier. While the plants produced fewer pods overall, the seeds were comparable in size to those grown in garden soil on Earth.
It remains unclear how healthy these “moon peas” would ultimately be and whether they might accumulate heavy metals in problematic quantities. Researchers at the University of Texas are now working to evaluate their nutritional value, safety and suitability for consumption. These findings will be crucial for ensuring a reliable food supply for future inhabitants of the Moon.
