Filipino scientists are developing dried Carabao mangoes into food suitable for future space missions, advancing a homegrown innovation that could also improve disaster-relief supplies and strengthen the country’s food export industry.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced the Philippine Space Mango Program on October 9, bringing one of the country’s best-known agricultural products into space-food research. Carabao mangoes account for about 81 percent of the Philippines’ total mango-growing area, according to DOST-PCAARRD.
The project aims to produce dried mangoes that remain safe, nutritious and suitable for extended storage during long-duration space missions. Researchers are exploring electron-beam irradiation, a technology that uses high-energy electrons to reduce harmful microorganisms and extend food shelf life while preserving nutritional quality, taste, and texture.
The initiative brings together DOST’s Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), the University of the Philippines Diliman, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), and the Batangas Mango High Value Growers Agriculture Cooperative (BAMAHGACO). The collaboration connects nuclear technology, food science, space research, and local agricultural production.
DOST-PNRI project leader Gina B. Abrera said the program also carries a distinctly Filipino purpose.
“We want a product that can travel far, represent our identity, and remind future astronauts of home,” Abrera said.
The technology’s potential extends beyond space exploration. DOST is also pursuing applications for emergency and disaster-response food supplies, where longer-lasting products can help maintain access to food during disruptions.
The research could further support Philippine mango growers and food manufacturers by improving processed products and strengthening the competitiveness of locally produced dried mangoes in international markets.
The Philippine Space Mango Program will be featured at the 2026 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in General Santos City from November 25 to 29, showcasing the country’s efforts to bring Filipino agricultural products into advanced scientific research.
