Rooibos in space: South African seeds sent to the ISS in October 2026

Herz — World Desk · 16 July 2026 at 14:04 · 30s summary · 2 min read

What we know

The South African Rooibos Council (SARC) announced on July 16, 2026, that it will send rooibos seeds to the International Space Station (ISS), according to France 24. This marks the first space experiment of its kind for Africa.

Dawie de Villiers, SARC director, stated that these will be the first seeds of an indigenous South African plant species and the first African seeds to be sent to space.

1. July 16, 2026
   SARC announces the sending of rooibos seeds to the ISS.
2. October 2026
   Planned departure of seeds to the International Space Station.
3. December 2026 – January 2027
   Expected return of seeds to Earth for planting and comparison with control seeds.

Scientific objectives

The experiment exposes the seeds to microgravity and space radiation to study their ability to adapt. It is part of a broader inquiry into the possibilities of sustainable food production beyond Earth.

Upon return, the seeds will be planted alongside control seeds that did not make the journey, so that any differences in germination and growth can be observed.

Rooibos: a South African plant with protected designation

Rooibos is a plant native to South Africa. Its name means "red bush" in Afrikaans. The plant produces a slightly sweet, caffeine-free infusion rich in antioxidants, sold worldwide.

In 2021, the industry received protected geographical indication (PGI) status from the EU—a quality label from the European Union recognizing products whose reputation is linked to their production region. Since then, only leaves grown in the Cederberg region, in southeastern South Africa, can be sold under the name "rooibos" in EU member countries.

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