Switch Bioworks
Switch Bioworks is developing nitrogen fertilizer-producing microbes (biofertilizer) that replace chemical fertilizer. Microbes can sustainably generate fertilizer compounds under synthetic biology “switches” on-demand on crop roots for a fraction of the cost.
Core to Switch’s technology breakthrough is enabling microbes to grow first and then produce fertilizer, overcoming a tradeoff between two resource-intensive processes that has stalled the biofertilizer industry for decades.
Your IFA Innovation Platform Profile
What collaboration are we looking for?
Strategic R&D collaborations to accelerate development of Switch products.Testing and commercialization of Switch products.
What solutions and opportunities are we offering?
Lower emissions from nitrogen fertilizer products by adding biologicals.Custom strain engineering / biologicals development.Understanding nitrogen biologicals mechanism of action.
Additional geographies of business operation
Africa, North America, Latin America
Maturity / funding
Seed
Additional Information
Funding received ($) and name of funders
$28m from: Acre Venture Partners, Astanor Ventures, Gates Foundation, Stanford University, Grantham Foundation, Ag Ventures Alliance, Anthos Capital, King Philanthropies, Thia Ventures
... of which equity investment
$23,600,000.00
... of which grants
$4,400,000.00
Intellectual property & regulation
What is the IP status of your innovation(s)?
The company leverages exclusively licensed intellectual property from Stanford and internally developed IP covering genetic switches leading to improved performance of ammonia production in field.
What regulatory approvals are you currently seeking, or have already been achieved?
In the US, Switch needs EPA and/or USDA approval
