Yes.
That’s according to Mars One, a nonprofit dedicated to colonizing Mars. In a June 23, 2016 statement, they wrote: “Scientists of Wageningen University & Research have just brought life on Mars one step closer. The research group, supported by Mars One, found that vegetables growing on Martian soil are safe to eat for humans.”
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Using soil simulants that approximate the martian soil, the science team grew 10 different crops in greenhouses in the Netherlands. Four of those crops—radishes, peas, rye, and tomatoes—have been harvested and tested for unsafe levels of heavy metal contamination. “No dangerous levels of aluminium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, chrome, nickel and lead were found – the four crops are safe to eat.”
Hollywood Gets Real and Delivers a Blockbuster Movie In the Process
Speaking of growing food on mars, what about the recent Ridley Scott film, “The Martian”? How well does the science adhere to reality? Pretty darn well, as it turns out. It’s an amazing story how this book even got published and from its sudden and totally unexpected success, then made into a movie.
In an ironic twist of life imitating art, before a lecture at the Wageningen University on food production in space, they showed the movie to their students.
Here’s a trailer for the few who may not have seen it yet: