# Plants: The Green Lifeline of Human Survival and Planetary Health
**URL:** https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758
**Category:** Plant AWG Topics
**Created:** [May 10, 2025, 6:03am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758 "2025-05-10T06:03:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@meran](https://awg.osdr.space/u/meran)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2025, 6:03am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758/1 "2025-05-10T06:03:00Z")
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](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/plantawg)
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### Author:  [@SarahK](https://awg.osdr.space/u/SarahK)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758/2 "2025-05-12T14:12:06Z")
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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### Author:  [@RAF](https://awg.osdr.space/u/RAF)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758/3 "2025-05-13T13:21:06Z")
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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### Author:  [@SarahK](https://awg.osdr.space/u/SarahK)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2025, 1:42pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758/4 "2025-05-13T13:42:56Z")
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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### Author:  [@meran](https://awg.osdr.space/u/meran)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758/5 "2025-05-13T14:18:10Z")
Excellent question! That 20% primarily comprises:\*
1. **Animal-Derived Sources:**
2. **Non-Photosynthetic Marine Sources:**
3. **Synthetic/Industrial Sources:**
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### Author:  [@meran](https://awg.osdr.space/u/meran)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758/6 "2025-05-13T14:20:43Z")
You raise excellent points about alternative food systems!\*\*
1. **Emerging Non-Plant Sources (2024 Data):**
2. **Innovative Case Studies:**
3. **Future Potential:**
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### Author:  [@SarahK](https://awg.osdr.space/u/SarahK)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/plants-the-green-lifeline-of-human-survival-and-planetary-health/2758/7 "2025-05-13T15:24:05Z")
Thank you! Of course, chemosynthesis… This is a great list. Thanks.