Even though only a small proportion of the microorganisms colonising, for example, soils or form the microbiomes of plants and animals are known, large amounts of genomic data are nevertheless available in special databases. The possible applications of (new) genomic engineering and AI programs, which can also be used to analyse the interactions between different species or design new combinations, are correspondingly diverse.
NGT bacteria have been commercially marketed in the USA for a few years as fertilisers to improve nutrient uptake in crops. The Bayer Group also aims to establish itself in the ‘biologicals’ industry via collaboration with the biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks by using AI and NGTs, amongst others. Ginkgo Bioworks stated that they have access to more than 300,000 agronomically relevant bacterial strains with more than 2.7 billion metagenome data sets in their databases.
One of the problems in respect to the propagation and spread of microorganisms is that they are almost impossible to control. For example, genetically engineered bacteria that are used as ‘fertilizers’ could potentially spread beyond the fields and colonise other plant species, including weeds. Furthermore, frequent cell division causes constant change in the genetic material of the bacteria. In addition, bacteria can also exchange genes both within their own species and across species boundaries, which can lead to uncontrolled spread and instability of the genetic changes.
Publication date / last update:
March 2026