Switch Bioworks is joining forces with Bayer Crop Science to advance next-generation biological solutions for agriculture.

 

This, with targeting one of the industry’s toughest challenges: getting engineered microbes to produce enough nitrogen fertilizer on plant roots to deliver meaningful benefits to growers.

 

The strategic collaboration will focus initially on nitrogen fixation and the potential of Switch’s proprietary genetic switch technology to develop biological products that improve crop nutrition and deliver measurable value to farmers.

 

Biological nitrogen fixation has long been viewed as a promising alternative to conventional nitrogen fertilizers. 

 

But efforts to engineer microbes that can deliver it at scale have run into a persistent technical hurdle: strains that produce nitrogen effectively may struggle to establish themselves on plant roots, while those that colonize roots reliably often fail to produce enough nitrogen to make a meaningful difference.

 

Switch says its programmable biology platform is designed to overcome that trade-off.

 

Developed initially at Stanford, the company’s genetically engineered microbes are programmed to establish themselves on plant roots before switching on nitrogen production. In grow-room studies, the approach produced five times more nitrogen than control strains engineered to keep nitrogen production switched on continuously.

 

The collaboration brings Switch’s technology together with Bayer’s expertise in crop science, product development, formulation, field testing and commercialization, with the aim of advancing biological innovations that can meet growers’ needs.

 

"Bayer's commitment to advancing agriculture through innovative biological solutions is unparalleled, and they have long demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the complexities of nitrogen performance in corn," said Tim Schnabel, founder and CEO of Switch Bioworks. 

 

"Partnering with Bayer is a testament to the potential of our platform, and this collaboration marks a pivotal milestone for our company."

 

For Bayer, the partnership reflects a broader push to develop biological solutions that help farmers navigate increasingly unpredictable growing conditions, protect crop yields and improve crop nutrition while responding to growing demands for more resilient and responsible food systems.

 

"Growers need more options to manage unpredictable conditions, protect crop potential and optimize their crop nutrition programs. They also need to do this while meeting increasing expectations from consumers for more resilient and responsible food systems. Biologicals are another way we address these challenges," said Benoit Hartmann, Insights, Innovation & Partnerships Lead at Bayer Crop Science. 

 

"To address these incredibly complex challenges, we partner with innovators like Switch Bioworks around the world to help bring solutions to growers. We do that by complementing their expertise with our capabilities in product development, formulation, field testing and commercialization, as well as our understanding of crop genetics. That's the only way we're going to accelerate progress."__