Background to Reach for the Stars with Rooibos

The Rooibos in Space STEM project, made possible by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) in partnership with MaxIQ Space, is set to take one of South Africa’s most iconic agricultural treasures beyond Earth’s atmosphere. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

For the SARC, investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the Cederberg is not just a project – it is a commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists, agri-innovators and problem-solvers who will shape the future of the region and the Rooibos industry itself.

MaxIQ Space – a global space-focused STEM education and technology company – specialises in hands-on, modular electronics and Space STEM programmes that enable learners to build, code and engage with real-world satellite and space experiments. Together, this partnership is opening an extraordinary door for the Cederberg region.

Later this year, Rooibos seeds will travel to the International Space Station!  For the first time, Rooibos will be exposed to the unique conditions of space, including microgravity and increased cosmic radiation. When the seeds return, participating Cederberg schools will help answer a remarkable scientific question: How does space influence Rooibos at the very start of its life cycle? This project links Rooibos to the growing global field of space agriculture, which explores how crops might grow in extreme environments, such as future missions to the Moon and even Mars.

Space STEM project in Cederberg schools -  In the months leading up to launching Rooibos into space, participating schools will embark on an immersive STEM journey. Educators will receive specialised training and innovative classroom tools. Learners will work with environmental sensors, analyse real data, explore coding and connect agriculture with space science in ways that are practical, exciting and locally meaningful.