Overview

Food & Agriculture focuses on the tools and technologies impacting how we feed the Earth’s people and animals. Microbiome engineering provides unique means and opportunities to support growing populations with more and different types of food, and address changes to food security, diet, and demand in a sustainable manner. In particular, engineering plant and soil microbiomes will be critical for managing agricultural productivity in the face of climate change and more frequent extreme weather events. Alternative proteins produced from engineered microbiomes also offer a means to continue feeding a growing population, while reducing the consumption of resources, including land, water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Societal Challenges

• Increase food production, security, and safety for a growing global population.

• Reduce the environmental impacts of food production.