Space seeds handed over in China's Hainan Province for selection, cultivation before planting

A handover ceremony for space seeds carried back by China's first reusable and returnable test satellite Shijian-1 was held recently in Longquan Town of Haikou City, south China's Hainan Province.

The seeds include four varieties: taro, black beans, sesame, and lotus seeds, totaling 102 grams.

These seeds were selected by the Agricultural and Rural Bureau of Longhua District, Haikou City.

After the handover, the seeds will not be immediately planted but will first be sent to the Tropical Agricultural and Forestry College at Hainan University for selection and cultivation.

This ensures that the seeds adapt to Earth’s environment while retaining their excellent qualities before they are trial-planted and promoted for broader agricultural use.

"Although we can't see any apparent differences in the appearance right now, some genetic variations have already occurred in their DNA. We need to use specific techniques to screen and identify the best seeds, which will then be developed into new varieties," said Wang Jian, professor from Tropical Agricultural and Forestry College, Hainan University.

"Our primary goal is to increase yield and promote these seeds to local farmers. Ultimately, we aim to transform technological achievements into productive forces, boosting farmers' incomes and improving agricultural efficiency," said Wang Luzhuang, Party official of the Agricultural and Rural Bureau of Longhua District, Haikou City.

Space breeding involves sending plant materials, such as seeds, into space via returnable satellites and manned spacecraft.

These seeds are exposed to cosmic rays, microgravity, high vacuum, and other space environmental factors, inducing genetic mutations.

Once they return to the Earth, these mutated seeds are selected and cultivated to breed new crop varieties. This innovative agricultural technology injects new vitality into the development of agriculture and has the potential to increase yields and improve crop resilience.

Space seeds handed over in China's Hainan Province for selection, cultivation before planting

Even under assumptions that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran does not persist past April and that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz gradually resumes, the world will face the pressure of rising oil prices throughout this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook released on Tuesday, the EIA raised the forecast of Brent crude oil spot price for 2026 to 96 U.S. dollars per barrel from the previous forecast of 79 U.S. dollars a barrel.

Retail gasoline and diesel prices will continue the rising trend this year, said the outlook.

The outlook maintains a risk premium on crude oil prices throughout the forecast period, as the EIA expects uncertainty around future supply disruptions to keep prices above pre-conflict levels.

"Once flows through the Strait of Hormuz resume, we assume it will take time to resolve the backlog and disruption to oil tanker routes and trade flows and that the potential for future disruptions will remain at risk and create a premium in the oil price," it said.

US Energy Information Administration forecasts rising oil prices throughout 2026