Researchers at TAU have developed a water-conserving technology for tomatoes using one of my favorite technology platforms: CRISPR.

Specifically, they found a gene designated ROP9 that, when eliminated, caused the plants’ stomata to partially close during the hottest parts of the day, resulting in less water loss, while still allowing the stomata to remain open the rest of the time to allow proper intake of CO2.

What does this mean? The same plant yields for a lower amount of water required.

Why does this matter? As demand for fresh, clean water grows by the year in response to an ever-growing population, the need for more efficient uses of existing water sources grows as well.

Why does this matter for sci-fi?

Here’s the fun part. Someday, next year or next century, we’ll be growing crops in space or on a lunar or Martian colony. The viability of those extraplanetary ventures will depend on maximizing the use of limited resources.

Do you think Mark Watney (the guy from The Martian) would have liked crops that took less water?

It’s easy to gloss over food in softer science fiction, but anything resembling hard sci-fi needs to account for how space exploration will handle this most basic function of biology.