As the global population continues to grow, farmers are tasked with a tall order: They need to get the most out of every acre and, at the same time, reduce the environmental impact caused by their crops.
It is, undeniably, an uphill struggle. After all, how are you supposed to make more—with less? And yet The BioAg Alliance, now in its fourth year, is helping the world’s farmers do just that.
The Alliance brings together Novozymes’ BioAg operations and capabilities within microbial discovery, development and production with Monsanto’s microbial discovery, advanced biology, field testing and commercial capabilities. By pooling resources and expertise, we’re helping farmers globally to increase their production, while making sustainability a priority.
Now, those efforts are bearing fruit. But before we dive into the latest developments, let’s take a brief look at the science and methodology behind microbial biotech.
Harnessing the power of nature
Just a spoonful of soil from anywhere on earth contains tens of billions of microbes, many of which help make nutrients and minerals better available to plants. Among other things, these microorganisms can spur growth and increase their resiliency. They can even help stimulate plants’ immune systems, resulting in fewer plant diseases and higher yields.
The hard part is that sifting through and testing each individual microbe for its efficacy is like looking for a needle in a haystack. A haystack the size of New York City.
Using state-of-the-art technology, The BioAg Alliance tries to match crops, such as corn or soybeans, with the perfect microbe. It can be a long process of discovery and elimination. But when we find a match, that discovery reveals a synergy that’s not just a win for the plant—but for the whole planet.
Harnessing the power of nature’s microbes, farmers can produce more crops while emitting less CO2 and reducing the need for fertilizer and pesticides. This benefits agriculture, consumers and the environment, and is important due to a variety of factors, not least the increasing demands from a rising global population and the need to grow food in a more sustainable manner and often in sub-optimal environments.
Read more: Microbes for better harvests
As the global population continues to grow, farmers are tasked with a tall order: They need to get the most out of every acre and, at the same time, reduce the environmental impact caused by their crops.
It is, undeniably, an uphill struggle. After all, how are you supposed to make more—with less? And yet The BioAg Alliance, now in its fourth year, is helping the world’s farmers do just that.
The Alliance brings together Novozymes’ BioAg operations and capabilities within microbial discovery, development and production with Monsanto’s microbial discovery, advanced biology, field testing and commercial capabilities. By pooling resources and expertise, we’re helping farmers globally to increase their production, while making sustainability a priority.
Now, those efforts are bearing fruit. But before we dive into the latest developments, let’s take a brief look at the science and methodology behind microbial biotech.
Harnessing the power of nature
Just a spoonful of soil from anywhere on earth contains tens of billions of microbes, many of which help make nutrients and minerals better available to plants. Among other things, these microorganisms can spur growth and increase their resiliency. They can even help stimulate plants’ immune systems, resulting in fewer plant diseases and higher yields.
The hard part is that sifting through and testing each individual microbe for its efficacy is like looking for a needle in a haystack. A haystack the size of New York City.
Using state-of-the-art technology, The BioAg Alliance tries to match crops, such as corn or soybeans, with the perfect microbe. It can be a long process of discovery and elimination. But when we find a match, that discovery reveals a synergy that’s not just a win for the plant—but for the whole planet.
Harnessing the power of nature’s microbes, farmers can produce more crops while emitting less CO2 and reducing the need for fertilizer and pesticides. This benefits agriculture, consumers and the environment, and is important due to a variety of factors, not least the increasing demands from a rising global population and the need to grow food in a more sustainable manner and often in sub-optimal environments.
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