Growing food on Mars will require more than just seeds and water; the regolith itself is a poor growing medium. A review published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences by researchers in the United States and Brazil examines how beneficial fungi could help make it farmable. The team focused on nutrient shortages—especially nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus—and how fungi might overcome them.
The review highlights arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which form close partnerships with plant roots and act as microscopic extensions of the root system. These fungi improve nutrient uptake and help plants cope with abiotic stress, such as the harsh conditions of lunar or Martian regolith. Some fungal species considered in the study have already been used aboard the International Space Station.
The authors caution that more work is needed, particularly testing with actual lunar and Martian regolith rather than simulations. If the strategy proves effective, beneficial fungi could help astronauts produce larger, more reliable crops on the Moon and Mars, reducing dependence on food transported from Earth.