Plants: The Green Lifeline of Human Survival and Planetary Health

AWG Discussions Plant AWG Topics
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Plants play a fundamental role in ecosystems and human life:

  1. Oxygen Production & Carbon Sequestration: Through photosynthesis, they absorb CO₂ and release oxygen, essential for human respiration.
  2. Food Chain Basis: Over 80% of the human diet depends directly or indirectly on plants.
  3. Water & Soil Regulation: They maintain hydrological balance and soil fertility by preventing erosion.
  4. Medicinal Value: More than 25% of modern medicines are plant-derived (e.g., aspirin from willow bark).
  5. Air Purification: They absorb pollutants like formaldehyde and particulate matter (NASA studies confirm this).
  6. Psychological Benefits: Exposure to plants (Biophilia studies) reduces stress and boosts productivity.

**Plants aren’t just greenery—they’re the foundation of life!

@PlantAWG

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Genuinely curious - what is the 20% of the human diet that is not dependent on plants?! I’m totally new to the AWGs and to thinking about supporting life in space - thank you for your patience with the naiveté of my question.

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That’s a great question! There are indeed sources of food that do not rely on plants for nutrients.

(Perhaps it is not 20%, but less; however, in the near future, it could be even more than that.)

For example, in recent years, scientists have developed innovative methods to grow food in specialized dishes. For instance, various techniques are being used to produce cultured meat and fermentation-derived proteins. Additionally, nutrients can be obtained from fungi or bacteria cultivated on non-plant-based substrates, such as methane.

Also, some wild mushrooms thrive on decaying wood or soil, showcasing unique methods of obtaining nutrients. These examples highlight the complex trophic relationships within ecosystems.

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Of course, I forgot that mushrooms are fungi, not plants. I had no idea, however, that fungi can grow on methane based substrates. I think of methane as a gas - how does that work?

And yes, petri-dish based meats are becoming more of a thing, aren’t they.

Thank you for your generous response! Fascinating stuff.

cheers,
Sarah

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Excellent question! That 20% primarily comprises:*

  1. Animal-Derived Sources:

    • Meat (animal protein)
    • Eggs
    • Dairy products

  2. Non-Photosynthetic Marine Sources:

    • Deep-sea organisms feeding on sediments
    • Chemosynthetic bacteria

  3. Synthetic/Industrial Sources:

    • Lab-synthesized vitamin supplements
    • Cultured meat products
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You raise excellent points about alternative food systems!**

  1. Emerging Non-Plant Sources (2024 Data):

    • Cultured meat: Now at $1.5B market cap (Projected 40% growth by 2030)
    • Precision fermentation: Mycoprotein production up 300% since 2020

  2. Innovative Case Studies:

    • NASA’s BioNutrients project: Protein synthesis from CO₂
    • EU’s FUNGI FUTURE initiative: 120+ edible wood-decay fungi identified

  3. Future Potential:

    • Microbial food systems could cover 35% of space mission diets (per ESA 2023 study)
    • Methane-based protein efficiency now at 60% of soybean yield
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Thank you! Of course, chemosynthesis… This is a great list. Thanks.

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