Seed inoculation with carbon- and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria for sustainable crop production

Overview

BIO-F Solutions is developing seed inoculation treatments based on indigenous omnitrophic cyanobacteria capable of fixing both carbon and nitrogen. These naturally occurring strains can fully replace organic and inorganic fertilisers for both monocot and dicot crops, including wheat and arugula. By delivering the bacteria directly to seeds, BIO-F aims to provide farmers with a cost-effective, scalable alternative to traditional fertilisation that reduces reliance on synthetic nitrogen inputs and minimises nutrient leaching.

The approach addresses a critical agricultural challenge: synthetic nitrogen fertilisers are costly, energy-intensive to produce, and contribute to environmental degradation through runoff and emissions. Harnessing native C- and N-fixing microbes offers a sustainable pathway to maintain or improve crop productivity while lowering input costs and environmental impact.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Indigenous cyanobacterial strains with combined carbon and nitrogen fixation capability
• Proven ability to completely replace urea fertiliser for wheat and outperform compost and NPK fertiliser for arugula, even at low application rates
• Live bacteria increase shoot dry weight approximately 2x compared to dead bacteria, indicating active and continuous nutrient exchange with the plant
• Strains capable of growth in darkness using external carbon sources, enabling flexible application conditions
• Seed inoculation delivery method designed for compatibility with existing industry-accepted seed treatment processes

How it works:

The bacteria colonise the seed surface and the surrounding rhizosphere, where they fix atmospheric carbon and nitrogen and transfer these nutrients to the developing plant. Greenhouse trials across poor and real soils have demonstrated consistent growth benefits across multiple crop types.

Technology readiness level

The technology has been validated through greenhouse experiments (n=8) across multiple soil types and crop species, demonstrating complete fertiliser replacement and significant biomass improvements. The next phase of development focuses on optimising seed coating formulations to extend shelf-life of both seeds and inoculated bacteria, with greenhouse trials measuring germination rate and above- and below-ground biomass accumulation. The solution is positioned for partnership-driven advancement toward large-scale commercial deployment.