Switch Bioworks, a biotechnology company dedicated to developing low-cost and sustainable fertilizers, has secured $17 million in Series Seed financing. The investment round was led by Change Forces Capital and joined by several prominent investors, including Grantham Foundation, Astanor Ventures, and Acre Venture Partners. This significant funding will propel Switch Bioworks’ mission to revolutionize fertilizer production by leveraging the power of engineered microbes.
Nitrogen fertilizer is a crucial component for crop growth and food production, yet its conventional production relies heavily on fossil fuels, resulting in significant carbon emissions and environmental degradation. Switch Bioworks’ innovative approach tackles this challenge head-on by engineering symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing microbes that reside on plant roots. These microbes naturally convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nutrients for plants, effectively replacing conventional fertilizers with a carbon-neutral alternative.
Kartick Kumar, Managing Partner and CEO of Change Forces, emphasized the critical need for sustainable solutions in the agricultural sector. “The team of talented biotechnology experts at Switch have assembled from around the world to develop an innovative approach that dramatically improves the performance and cost-effectiveness of biofertilizers, tackling a significant climate challenge,” said Kumar.
Dr. Tim Schnabel, founder and CEO of Switch Bioworks, explained the key innovation driving the company’s success. “What’s been limiting the efficacy of biofertilizers is that as soon as microbes are engineered to make fertilizer, it’s so energy intensive that they are no longer able to compete with native microbes in soil and on plant roots. That’s a problem, because if your microbes get outcompeted in a matter of days, they can’t make a meaningful amount of fertilizer over the crop growing season. At Switch, we’re pioneering a ‘switchable’ engineering approach that enables microbes to first compete and establish themselves on plant roots before switching on fertilizer production.” This groundbreaking approach ensures the engineered microbes can effectively establish themselves in the soil before actively producing nitrogen fertilizer.
Switch Bioworks is currently developing its first product, a consortium of diverse symbiotic microbes engineered to release nitrogen fertilizer under precise genetic control. This biofertilizer will be applied at planting, leveraging existing farmer practices, and is projected to be more cost-effective than conventional fertilizers, helping farmers improve their profitability. Fertilizer is one of the most significant operating expenses for farmers, and Switch Bioworks’ solution offers a viable and sustainable alternative.
The company’s innovative platform extends beyond nitrogen fertilization. Switch Bioworks has developed a modular platform of switches that can enhance the performance of various precision-engineered biological products. This adaptability allows the company to collaborate with partners in the agriculture and biotech industries, expanding its impact on sustainable agricultural practices.
The urgency of addressing climate change is undeniable, and Switch Bioworks’ mission aligns perfectly with this global imperative. With the latest funding, the company will focus on completing product development, including initial scale-up fermentation, formulation, and comprehensive greenhouse and field trials in the U.S. and internationally. The goal is to bring this innovative carbon-neutral biological nitrogen fertilizer to market, offering a sustainable solution for feeding the world.
Switch Bioworks, spun out of Stanford University in 2022, is headquartered in San Carlos, California. The company’s internationally trained team of experts is committed to developing sustainable solutions that improve planet health and reduce the cost of fertilizer for farmers. By leveraging the power of next-generation synthetic biology, Switch Bioworks is contributing to the growth of the global bioeconomy and promoting a more sustainable future for agriculture.
