Scientists are one step closer to making sci-fi dreams come true - allowing humans to live on Mars (and meaning Matt Damon wouldn't need to be rescued after all).
A team at the Wageningen University in the Netherlands have been growing crops in Martian soil for the past three years, and they’re now ready to taste them.
Tests have shown that the radishes, peas, rye and tomatoes are safe to eat according to standards set by the American Food and Drug Administration and Dutch Food Agency.
Previously there had been uncertainty about absorption of heavy metals found in the ground on Mars such as cadmium, copper and lead.
This plant harvest is the first food produce to be cultivated in the soil, which replicates that found on the red planet, but does have some natural elements added from earth that would need to be taken by astronauts.
Dutch scientist, Wieger Wamelink said: “These remarkable results are very promising. We can actually eat the radishes, peas, rye and tomatoes and I am very curious what they will taste like [sic].”
Tests have shown that the plants are safe to eat, there had been uncertainty about absorption of heavy metals found in the ground such as cadmium, copper and lead.
The tests have been a precursor to plans for the first manned mission to the planet in the next decade.
The university is also testing out viability of growing potatoes, a project which has been crowd funded online.