They were launched into space in November 2019 and March 2020, respectively, as part of an experiment organized by the European start-up Space Cargo Unlimited (SCU), according to a statement published on Monday.
The research, known as Mission Wise, is examining how ‘new ways are being developed to grow and scale plants on earth to feed more people on the planet.’
The vines will be analyzed to see how they have changed during their time in space, where the effects of microgravity and a higher exposure to radiation than on earth accelerate genetic changes.
Scientists will then compare it to specimens left on earth, with the aim of adapting vines to grow in more difficult environments.
Expert tasters will also taste the 12 bottles of Bordeaux to see what effect his time in space has had on the wine.
“Space Cargo Unlimited will investigate how space radiation and micro-gravity affect wine components during the aging process,” the company said in a statement in November 2019.
Researchers believe that vines and wine are ‘ideal study materials’ to determine the future of agriculture, as climate change continues to change growing conditions.
Woody plants such as vines are crucial to feeding the human population, researchers say, but they have never been studied in space.
“It could be a game changer to unlock tomorrow’s agriculture,” said Michael Lebert, SCU’s chief scientific officer.
Planned future experiments include measuring the effect of space conditions on the fermentation of bacteria and yeasts, SCU said.