Engineered microbial fertilizers

Genetically modified nitrogen-fixing microbes (e.g., rhizobia and cyanobacteria) that enable non-leguminous crops to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Person applying nutrient or bioactive solution to plants using a small pipette to enhance plant growth

Readiness Level

Priorities for scaling

catalysing research

Microbial fertilisers are living formulations of beneficial microbe strains that enhance plant development through various direct and indirect pathways. They can offer substantial, environment-friendly, and economical fertilisation for amassing crop productivity. However, they are limited by species-specific interactions, leading to a limited range of application. One solution to overcome such barriers is the groundbreaking approach of introducing genetic modifications into the microbial strains to enable them to interact with a wider range of plants. The technology becomes especially impactful when looking at the possibility of unlocking biological nitrogen fixation for common crops through the genomic modification of nitrogen-fixing microbes. Currently, nitrogen-fixing microbes, such as certain strains of rhizobia and cyanobacteria, play a vital role in agriculture by forming symbiotic relationships with specific leguminous plants in which they convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form of nitrogen for the plant. Other important food crops do not naturally form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing microbes, leading to the reliance for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers for these non-leguminous crops. Through genetic modification, such nitrogen-fixing microbes could be adapted to form symbiotic relationships with common food crops, with the goal of reducing and ultimately even eliminating the need for synthetic fertilisers.

Food System Area

agricultural inputs & primary production practices

The overarching problem being addressed by this innovation is the environmental footprint of agriculture, especially in relation to heavy reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, offering a sustainable and affordable alternative to increase productivity. Conventional synthetic nitrogen fertilisers are energy-intensive to produce, rely on fossil fuels and significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. This includes polluted drinking water, eutrophication and acid rain. Excessive fertilisation can also increase soil salinity, and in the case of some phosphorus sources cadmium accumulation, leading to soil infertility. Engineered microbial fertilisers restore soil health, eliminate problems associated with excess fertilisation, and aim to eliminate reliance on synthetic fertilisers while maintaining or improving crop yields.

Problem area

reducing agricultural footprintincreasing [system] productivity

What impact could it have?

Human health impact

medium

The innovation offers medium-sized health benefits, primarily in the form of increased food security and the mitigation of health risks associated with synthetic fertilizers, such as polluted drinking water, direct and indirect exposure to toxins in the food chain, and the creation of dead zones in water bodies, affecting fish yields.

Environmental impact

high

This innovation is expected to have significant environmental benefits, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating acid rain and curbing water pollution associated with conventional synthetic fertilizer production and use, all while improving soil health and biodiversity. However, an increase in demand of crops for animal production or biomass for renewable energy, as a result of decreased crop prices due to lower fertilizer costs, could have mixed effects on land use and emissions.

Livelihood impact

medium

Engineered microbial fertilizers could have medium-sized impacts on livelihoods, potentially increasing profitability for farmers through reduced fertilizer costs and improving food security by enhancing crop yields and reducing the prices of crops.

Socio-cultural impact

low

Socio-cultural impacts are expected to be small to medium, with potential concerns about GMO labeling affecting social acceptability. However, this innovation is not anticipated to significantly alter power dynamics.

Equity impact

low

Impacts on equity are expected to be small to medium, contingent on the affordability and applicability of the final products, which could vary based on social and economic factors.

Potential for transformative impact

high

Engineered microbial fertilizers have the potential to be a game changer, though their impact may initially be seen as an incremental improvement depending on the trajectory of technological development.

What factors influence scaling?

Investment in alternative fertilizers has been on the rise in recent years as the agricultural industry seeks sustainable solutions to enhance crop productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. Microbes and new forms of traditional fertilizer tech are becoming more and more prevalent in this space, with the global microbial fertilizer market anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Currently, there is no need for bundling, but potential synergies could be explored with microbe-friendly genetically modified crops and renewable energy resources for production.

The potential impact of engineered microbial fertilizers is global, with applicability across diverse agricultural systems.

Engineered microbial fertilizers are suitable for adoption across all scales of the food system. However, societal and policy acceptance may pose barriers, particularly concerning GMO labeling.

This innovation is likely to disrupt the synthetic fertilizer industry's value chain while providing a replacement for their products. It may also disrupt consumers due to concerns about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Additionally, handlers, storage facilities, and transportation/distribution may be affected due to the short shelf life of microbial products and their specific temperature and storage requirements.

Prominent organizations involved in research in this field include Joyn Bio, Pivot Bio, SynSym, and M2B.

There are potential unintended consequences associated with this innovation, including the disruption of soil microbiomes, unforeseen impacts of climate change on plant-microbe interactions, and the potential for energy loss from plants due to symbiotic relationships with microbes. Additionally, societal and policy acceptance issues may arise.

Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of engineered microbial fertilizers. For example, field trials in the U.S. Corn Belt demonstrated higher yields and reduced yield variance compared to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Researchers have also engineered soil bacteria to produce ammonia, which can replace conventional chemical fertilizers in crops.

Where is acceleration most needed?

Accelerator scores reflect the degree of action needed across eight key accelerators of change that can enable an innovation to scale. A higher score signals that greater effort and support are needed in that area to unlock uptake at scale. Click on each accelerator to see what’s been achieved and what still needs attention.

Building Trust

High

Building Trust

Genetic modification is a contentious issue, and the use of microbes in this manner is a relatively new and controversial concept, requiring substantial trust-building efforts.

Transforming Mindsets

High

Transforming Mindsets

Microbial technologies are novel, with unpredictable consequences, and genetic modification adds another layer of complexity. These innovations are highly technological and require a shift in mindset.

Enabling Social License

High

Enabling Social License

Policymakers and the public need to be educated about the general principles of genetic engineering to make informed decisions, making this a critical aspect for enabling social acceptance.

Ensuring Stable Finance

High

Ensuring Stable Finance

The availability of grants and capital for researchers, entrepreneurs, producers, and marketers is crucial for scaling up production and ensuring these innovations are readily accessible.

Designing Market Incentives

Medium

Designing Market Incentives

The design of market incentives may depend on research and development efforts and final product costs. While cost-effectiveness is expected, risks associated with unintended consequences must be carefully managed.

Changing Policies and Regulations

High

Changing Policies and Regulations

The genetic modification of microbes is a relatively new and unexplored area in regulatory frameworks, presenting significant challenges that need to be addressed.

Safeguarding Against Undesirable Effects

High

Safeguarding Against Undesirable Effects

The potential for unintended consequences, such as disruptions to microbial ecosystems and plant growth, is high. Robust safeguards are essential.

Developing Transition Pathways

High

Developing Transition Pathways

Gradually transitioning from synthetic fertilizers to biological nitrogen fixation, depending on technological advancements, may initially involve incremental shifts. The effects on synthetic fertilizer value chains need to be considered carefully.

Reference

Mus, F., Khokhani, D., MacIntyre, A. M., Rugoli, E., Dixon, R., Ané, J.-M., & Peters, J. W. (2022). Genetic Determinants of Ammonium Excretion in nifL Mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii. In J. B. Glass (Ed.), Applied and Environmental Microbiology (Vol. 88, Issue 6). American Society for Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01876-21

Shahwar, D., Mushtaq, Z., Mushtaq, H., Alqarawi, A. A., Park, Y., Alshahrani, T. S., & Faizan, S. (2023). Role of microbial inoculants as bio fertilizers for improving crop productivity: A review. In Heliyon (Vol. 9, Issue 6, p. e16134). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16134

Wen, A., Havens, K. L., Bloch, S. E., Shah, N., Higgins, D. A., Davis-Richardson, A. G., Sharon, J., Rezaei, F., Mohiti-Asli, M., Johnson, A., Abud, G., Ane, J.-M., Maeda, J., Infante, V., Gottlieb, S. S., Lorigan, J. G., Williams, L., Horton, A., McKellar, M., … Temme, K. (2021). Enabling Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Cereal Crops in Fertilized Fields. In ACS Synthetic Biology (Vol. 10, Issue 12, pp. 3264–3277). American Chemical Society (ACS). https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.1c00049