Carbon-fixing extremophilic bacteria as bioinoculants for restoring soil health and carbon content

Overview

Soil carbon depletion caused by erosion, intensive tillage, residue removal, and land-use change is a major threat to agricultural productivity. This research proposes the development of bioinoculants based on Geodermatophilales, a poorly studied group of extremophilic bacteria dominant in arid ecosystems. These organisms are uniquely adapted to harsh conditions and possess highly diverse metabolism, including up to four distinct carbon fixation pathways. By biotechnologically exploiting the bacterial metabolism involved in biological carbon sequestration, the project aims to deliver new agricultural solutions that enhance soil quality and restore fertility to carbon-depleted soils.

Technical specifications

Key features and validated capabilities:

• Optimised isolation techniques and cultural conditions for extremophilic carbon-fixing bacteria
• More than 60 taxonomically characterised isolates sourced from diverse extreme habitats, offering a broad range of metabolic features
• Genome sequencing and bioinformatic mining to identify biotechnological potential
• In vitro and in vivo plant-growth promotion tests yielding positive results
• Confirmed tolerance to oxidative stress and heavy metals
• Future formulation of selected carbon-fixing bacteria on PolyHIPE-type polymer carriers (Patent Nos. EP2349362 / EP2342272)
• Planned evaluation of bioinoculant efficiency in mesocosms under varied climatic parameters

Technology readiness level

The technology is at an advanced stage of laboratory validation. Optimised isolation, taxonomic characterisation of over 60 isolates, genome sequencing, and preliminary in vitro and in vivo plant-growth promotion trials have already been completed with positive results. The next steps involve in vitro selection of the most efficient carbon-fixing strains, formulation onto a proprietary polymer carrier, and mesocosm-scale evaluation under different climatic conditions. The full validation programme is expected to take approximately two years and involves multiple international institutions, positioning the technology at a mid-stage development level moving toward field readiness.