Development of microbiological fertilizers as a method of reducing synthetic nutrition

The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer using the Haber-Bosch process is energy-intensive and is associated with greenhouse gas emissions, which account for about 2% of the global total. Due to rising energy and chemical prices, the importance of finding alternative biological solutions for crop nutrition is increasing. Experts note that microorganisms are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, making it available to plants.

One of the problems with implementing microbial fertilizers is the energy cost of the nitrogen fixation process for the bacteria themselves, which hinders the formation of stable colonies in the soil. The startup Switch Bioworks is developing a genetic switch technology: microbes begin active ammonia production only after a sufficient population has formed around the root system. A drop in soil nitrogen levels to a specific value is being considered as a trigger. Currently, the company is conducting field trials on corn crops in six US states. According to preliminary estimates, Switch Bioworks products will be able to replace up to 25% of the volume of traditional fertilizers, and in the future — up to 50%.

Another player in the market, Pivot Bio, has been developing microbiological fertilizers since 2011. The range of products covers a wide spectrum of crops, including corn, cotton, wheat, sorghum, and barley. Application methods vary: from seed treatment to application during sowing. As with Switch Bioworks, the company's forecasts suggest replacing approximately a quarter of the nitrogen demand with biological products.

Experts, in particular Dan Blaustein-Rejto from the Breakthrough Institute and Professor John Havlin from North Carolina State University, emphasize that despite the promise of the technology, a complete replacement of synthetic fertilizers is not feasible in the foreseeable future. Field research remains an important stage for verifying the effectiveness of developments, as laboratory results do not always coincide with real-world results in the field and data from independent experts.