The Download: engineered microbes for crops, and OpenAI’s culture problem

This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter providing a daily dose of what's happening in the world of technology. Engineering microbes for crops could play a role in sustaining the global food supply. Fertilizer is essential, but its production is energy-intensive and generates significant emissions. Some companies are exploring the use of engineered microbes to provide plants with necessary nitrogen, potentially minimizing the reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Startup Switch Bioworks is piloting a novel approach using a genetic switch that enables microbes to establish themselves and start producing nitrogen before transitioning into that role. The company is currently conducting trials in six US states, although it is premature to determine the efficacy of this method in real-world settings.

However, their modeling indicates that engineered microbes could potentially replace up to 50% of synthetic fertilizers. Read more about the potential of engineered microbes to revolutionize agriculture.