#Pivot Bio #Nitrogen Fixation #Scientific Reports

Innovative Microbial Technology for Sustainable Agriculture

Recent findings published in Scientific Reports highlight an exciting technological advancement in the field of sustainable agriculture. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University, and Pivot Bio have presented the first peer-reviewed evidence demonstrating that genetically engineered microbes can significantly contribute to nitrogen supply for corn farmers in commercial settings. This innovative approach aims to revolutionize centuries-old methods of nitrogen provision for crops, addressing a long-standing challenge in the agricultural sector.

At the core of this study lies the concept of nitrogen fixation, a natural process performed by specific bacterial strains known as diazotrophs. These bacteria have the unique ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia, serving as a fundamental building block for amino acids and proteins. Historically, this biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) was the primary form of nitrogen supply for crops before the advent of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, natural diazotrophs can lose this essential function when exposed to prolonged high nitrogen concentrations in the soil, leading to energy conservation strategies that hinder their effectiveness.

The research team at Pivot Bio tackled this problem by genetically modifying diazotrophs to enable them to supply nitrogen to plants even in nitrogen-rich environments, such as those treated with synthetic fertilizers. Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Karsten Temme explains,