Nitrous Oxide Reducing Bacteria (NNRB) Biological Inoculants for Soil and Manure
NMBU’s NNRB technology uses specialized bacteria, delivered via organic waste fertilizers, to biologically convert nitrous oxide into harmless nitrogen gas in agricultural soils. By transforming nutrient-rich waste streams into bioactive inoculants, this approach offers a scalable, sustainable method to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95%, supporting global climate goals and circular economy principles.
Overview
The Nitrogen Group at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has developed an innovative biotechnological solution to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils. Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance, significantly contributing to the climate impact of food production. This technology utilizes specialized Nitrous Oxide Reducing Bacteria (NNRB) that act as biological sinks. These bacteria have been engineered or selected to lack the genes responsible for N2O production while retaining the functional capacity to reduce existing N2O into harmless nitrogen gas (N2).
Technical specifications
The core of the technology relies on leveraging organic agricultural waste, such as biogas digestates or manure, as a growth substrate and vector for the NNRB. By enriching these specialized bacteria within the organic waste, the material is transformed into a high-density, bioactive fertilizer. When applied to agricultural fields, these NNRB survive in the soil environment and continue to consume N2O throughout the crop-growing season. Key features include:
- Significant mitigation: Field trials have demonstrated reductions in N2O emissions by 50% to 95% depending on soil conditions.
- Ecological integration: Uses existing organic waste streams, promoting circular economy practices.
- Targeted performance: Selected bacterial strains, such as Cloacibacterium sp. CB-01, demonstrate high tenacity and efficacy in diverse soil environments.
- Scalability: The process is designed to be integrated into existing biogas and wastewater treatment infrastructures to produce large volumes of bio-inoculant.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently in development and demonstration phases. Supported by projects like NOX2N and NRBOW, research has progressed from laboratory validation to successful field experiments using specialized robotic monitoring systems. The initiative is actively...
About Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU is a comprehensive public research university with about 8,400 students and 1,900 employees, combining broad academic scope with an applied, sustainability-oriented character. Its Ås campus, roughly 40 km south of Oslo, is part of Norway’s leading biosciences cluster and is co-located with NIBIO, Nofima, and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. Laboratories, experimental facilities, and a modern veterinary building give companies and public-sector partners practical access to research and expertise. Research is supported by the Research Council of Norway, the European Union, and other competitive external sources. Ard Innovation, NMBU’s technology transfer office, supports intellectual property, licensing, commercialization, and startup formation.
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