Bayer to develop grain crops requiring less nitrogen fertilizer

German agricultural chemicals group Bayer plans to develop new varieties of wheat, corn and rice capable of utilizing atmospheric nitrogen with the help of soil bacteria, potentially reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. According to Bloomberg, the company has obtained a commercial license for technology developed by the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). The approach involves editing the DNA of grain crops to enable their root systems to interact with bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into compounds plants can absorb.

Unlike soybeans and other legumes, which naturally fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with bacteria, wheat, corn and rice remain heavily dependent on mineral nitrogen fertilizers. These three crops account for nearly half of the calories consumed globally. According to Bayer, the new technology could reduce farmers’ fertilizer costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and decrease countries’ dependence on nitrogen fertilizer imports. The development has gained particular importance amid sharply rising fertilizer prices and disruptions to global supplies caused by the war in the Middle East.

The company sees the technology as an opportunity to capture part of the global urea market, valued at approximately $85 bln. According to Matthias Berninger, Bayer’s head of public affairs and sustainability, fertilizers remain one of the largest expenses for agricultural producers. Meanwhile, the European Union continues to source nearly a quarter of its urea imports from Russia. Bayer believes that new approaches to nitrogen nutrition could improve the economic efficiency of grain production and reduce risks associated with volatility in international fertilizer markets.

Changes to EU legislation on gene-edited plants could support the development of the technology. In 2026, European lawmakers backed new rules providing broader opportunities for cultivating crops developed using genome-editing techniques. Bayer’s next step will be to test the technology under field conditions following greenhouse trials. However, the company acknowledges that commercial introduction of such varieties is unlikely before the 2030s, as further research and confirmation of their effectiveness are still required.

In addition to its cooperation with UC Davis, Bayer signed a partnership agreement in October with Switch Bioworks, a US biotechnology company spun out of Stanford University. Unlike the approach involving editing plant genomes, this technology focuses on genetically modifying microorganisms living on plant roots to help crops absorb nitrogen. Both approaches are part of Bayer’s strategy to reduce fertilizer use and improve agricultural profitability. However, the company acknowledges the technological risks and does not rule out the possibility that some developments may fail to deliver the expected results.

Tags: corn, grain, rice, wheat, nitrogen fertilizers, Bayer