Nigeria’s Egusi Seed Set To Become First Agricultural Product From West Africa To Journey To Space

Nigeria’s Egusi Seed Set To Become First Agricultural Product From West Africa To Journey To Space.

In an extraordinary leap for Nigerian science and culture, the humble egusi melon seed, a staple of West African cuisine, is set to make history as the first agricultural product from the region to journey into space. Sourced from the fertile fields of Oyo State, these seeds will soar to the International Space Station (ISS) on 31 July 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking a proud moment for Nigeria and the entire continent.

 This groundbreaking mission, aptly named “Emerging Space Nations: Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space,” is spearheaded by Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, in collaboration with Jaguar Space and The Karman Project. The egusi seed will share its cosmic voyage with three other culturally significant crops—Egyptian cotton, Armenian pomegranate, and Pakistani wheat—as part of an ambitious experiment to explore the future of food in space.

Source: Govima