Brazil, Italy, and Angola launch microgravity agricultural research

Brazil, Italy, and Angola have launched a scientific cooperation project to study plant growth in microgravity conditions. Promoted by the International Italo-Latin American Organization (IILA) and supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the initiative aims to understand how plants react to extreme environments to address global agricultural challenges.

The research focuses on how microgravity affects germination, growth, and physiological responses. By studying these processes, scientists hope to develop agricultural technologies that require less water, nutrients, and energy. This knowledge is intended to improve crop resistance to soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate change.

The first phase of the investigation is being conducted at the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ) within the University of São Paulo (USP), where researchers are observing plant behavior when removed from Earth's gravitational constraints.