Probably answered before...but Plague event questi

[geoschmo]

Population can also be wiped out completely using the intel food comtamination project. However, unlike a plagued planet, a colony wiped out in this manner doesn't revert to an uncolonized state. It remains as a colony with zero population. All the facilities remain, but no construction will occur and no resources will be produced. The empire owning the colony can repopulate the planet with a simple transer of population instead of needing a colony ship.