By Andi Anderson
Iowa 4-H is providing young people with an exciting opportunity to explore space science, agriculture, and research through the 2027 Plant the Moon Challenge and a new Plant the Moon SPIN Club. These programs are designed to help youth develop scientific skills while learning how food could be grown during future space missions.
The Plant the Moon Challenge is a global research competition inspired by NASA's space exploration goals. Participants investigate how crops can be grown in simulated lunar soil, known as lunar regolith simulant. Youth teams design and conduct their own experiments, collect data, and present findings that could help scientists better understand food production in space.
To help students prepare for the challenge, Iowa 4-H is launching a virtual Plant the Moon SPIN Club. The club will meet twice a month from January through May and will introduce participants to topics such as plant science, hydroponics, food systems, soil science, agriculture, and future careers related to space exploration.
According to Maya Hayslett, Iowa 4-H crop science education specialist, the program offers valuable research experiences for youth.
"The Plant the Moon Challenge is an excellent opportunity for youth to engage in real research," said Maya Hayslett, Iowa 4-H crop science education specialist. "I love that youth not only get to design and implement their own research projects, but they also receive feedback from expert scientists. We applaud the hard work and creative thinking of these young scientists and look forward to welcoming new teams in 2027."
Iowa youth have achieved remarkable success in previous competitions. In the Junior Division, the Veggie Voyagers team from Cedar Falls received an international Best in Show Award for research on cucumber growth in simulated lunar soil. The team improved its project by studying plant diseases and refining growing methods.
“In last year’s experiment, many of our plants died and we thought it was caused by ‘damping off’ disease,” the students explained in their project report. “We researched damping off and decided to add a fan near our grow setup to keep air moving, and we used the seed starting mix instead of potting soil because we thought it would drain extra water better.”
The team also explored practical challenges related to growing food on the moon.
“We learned that vine plants need a support system and that watering from the bottom was a success, which could save water,” another team member noted. “If we were growing these plants on the Moon, we would have to figure out a system for supporting the plants, so they stay safe and do not crowd the astronauts’ habitat.”
In the high school division, Team Smells Fishy from Postville earned international recognition for researching spinach production using simulated lunar regolith, aquaculture waste products, and hydrogel beads. The team examined whether vertical farming systems could efficiently support food production in space.
The students concluded that “vertical farming using baby spinach maximizes space efficiency, increases edible crop yield and uses fish waste as a fertilizer.”
Their findings also suggested promising results for future lunar agriculture.
“Results indicate that using fish tailings may be an effective nutrient source for growing plants in simulated lunar regolith,” the team wrote. “Additionally, supplementing lunar regolith with hydrogel beads, and supplemental waterings with nutrient-rich fish water also contributes to plant growth.”
Several other Iowa teams earned state awards for creativity and research excellence, demonstrating the strong interest in STEM and agricultural sciences among Iowa youth.
With support from educational and scientific partners, Iowa 4-H will provide free registration for up to 24 Iowa youth teams in 2027. Participating teams will receive lunar soil simulant and other supplies needed for their experiments.
The Plant the Moon Challenge supports scientific inquiry, critical thinking, data collection, communication, and problem-solving skills. Through these experiences, youth not only learn about space exploration but also gain valuable knowledge in agriculture and STEM fields. Registration for both the 2027 Plant the Moon Challenge and the new Plant the Moon SPIN Club is now open.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: Iowa, Education