In Wuhan, Hubei province, harvesting began for more than 20 hectares of rice grown from seeds that had traveled into space.

Annual production of each mu (0.07 hectares) is expected to reach 400 to 500 kilograms, said Hubei Jinguang Agricultural Science and Technology Co, which participated in the space breeding project. The rice was planted in June.

After the harvest, which began on Wednesday, researchers will check the plants and save the superior seeds.

Rice grown from seeds that were exposed to microgravity, the vacuum of space and cosmic radiation is usually soft and sweet, the company said.