Pivot Bio, Bayer Announce Research Collaboration to Enhance Soybean Inoculant

Pivot Bio and Bayer are collaborating to develop Bradyrhizobium strains with enhanced nitrogen production for U.S. soybean growers. Widely found in U.S. soils, Bradyrhizobium strains help soybean plants fix atmospheric nitrogen. Increased access and use of nitrogen can help improve soybean yields.  

“A collaboration that brings together Pivot Bio’s microbial expertise with Bayer’s experience in developing and commercializing chemical and biological crop protection products will ultimately benefit soybean farmers worldwide,” said Karsten Temme, CEO and cofounder of Pivot Bio in a company news release. “We are committed to finding innovative solutions that help farmers be more productive while reducing their environmental footprint. A new Bradyrhizobium solution cocreated by Pivot Bio and Bayer has the potential to do both.”

“Pivot Bio’s deep knowledge of improving natural soil microbes – and their dedication to developing products that improve on-farm sustainability – make them ideal partners for this research,” said Scott Bollman, microbial traits portfolio lead at Bayer, in a company news release.

Bradyrhizobium strain sourcing and evaluation is expected to begin immediately, and field testing of the first microbes could take place as early as 2021, say officials for the company.

Financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.