WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WISH) – Genetically engineered bacteria could change the future of agriculture across our country.

If scientists at the Purdue University lab could produce the right bacteria, it could reduce or replace the amount of chemicals and fertilizers needed to grow crops.

In a Purdue lab, a machine shakes tiny vials of liquid, helping genetically modified bacteria grow.

Dr. Leopold Green, an associate professor and researcher at Purdue, says the team is trying to take what bacteria do natively and try to improve the plant’s results. “It can help the plant absorb nitrogen and grow stronger and faster,” he said.

This could replace or reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, which are expensive to manufacture and produce greenhouse gases.

“Where we get the fertilizer is very energy intensive,” said Roland Wilhelm, assistant professor of agronomy at Purdue. “Much of this energy is produced in dirty ways, which contributes to climate change. »

By replacing fertilizers with modified bacteria, farmers can spray fewer chemicals on their fields. “This will help reduce the amount of herbicide you have to apply from year to year,” Wilhelm said.

The problem right now is translating scientific knowledge in the laboratory to the field. “Field translation is often one of the most important steps, but also the most difficult,” said Dan Quinn, assistant professor of agronomy and corn extension specialist.

“We could see it in the lab, we could see it in the greenhouse. You bring it to the field and a lot of times it’s very variable, or we don’t see it,” he added.

Despite this challenge, the laboratory’s researchers are optimistic.

“I don’t think we’re too far away,” Green said.