How Pivot Bio Is Fixing Nitrogen—and the Future of Farming—with Microbes

During Earth month, there are many products and programs that are supporting a more sustainable future. But one, is not only delivering on its sustainability commitments, it is helping America’s farmers deliver stronger and healthier crops. Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading innovative agtech companies, delivers to farmers patented crop nutrition technologies that harness the power of nature to reliably and productively grow the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility. Currently available in North America and soon in Brazil, the company’s products are a breakthrough innovation and one of the agriculture industry’s most promising solutions. Pivot Bio has been recognized three times by Time magazine on its annual list of best inventions, by Fast Company on its World Changing Ideas and World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies lists, by CNBC on its Disruptor 50 list of private companies, by Fortune on its Impact 20 list of startups driving social good and by MIT Tech Review as one of 15 climate tech companies to watch.

Pivot Bio stands at the forefront of transforming agriculture with its innovative microbial nitrogen solutions. Founded in 2011 with hub offices in Berkeley, California and Wayzata, Minnesota and production facility in St. Louis, with a customer success center in Ames, the company has grown to be one of only a handful of companies delivering real value to growers and early commercial success.

Pivot Bio’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its 2023 impact report, which reveals that since 2022, growers using its products have prevented over 932,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to the annual emissions of two and a half gas-fired power plants. The company’s N-OVATOR™ program has also rewarded farmers with more than $13 million for adopting sustainable nitrogen practices, reinforcing its mission to align economic incentives with environmental responsibility. As the only company with patented gene-edited nitrogen-fixing microbes that continue to work even in the presence of synthetic fertilizers, Pivot Bio has set a new standard in agricultural innovation.

Since becoming CEO nearly two years ago, agtech leader Chris Abbott has played a pivotal role in scaling the company’s impact and reach. His strategic vision has not only accelerated growth but also deepened the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture worldwide. We spoke with Chris about the science behind Pivot Bio’s technology, its environmental and economic impact and what the future of farming looks like through the lens of innovation.

Pivot Bio’s gene-edited microbes are central to your technology—how do they differ from traditional nitrogen-fixing solutions, and why are they better suited for today’s farms?

We have spent years fine-tuning the innovative science behind our products. No one else does what we do. Pivot Bio manufactures microbes that fix nitrogen, allowing farmers to reduce the amount of synthetic nitrogen they must apply per acre. The company’s team of top scientists and researchers identified nitrogen fixing microbes naturally present in the soil, enhanced their strengths by editing key base genetics and rigorously tested their efficacy in numerous field trials across the U.S. Other products like naturally occurring microbes or biostimulants for the billions of microbes in the soil can improve soil health, but microbes that are not gene-edited will shut down their fixation capabilities in the presence of nitrogen. We keep that feature running full-time.

Pivot Bio has had impressive success in reducing nitrogen fertilizer dependency, which has both environmental and financial benefits for farmers. Could you share some of the most impactful real-world examples of how your products have changed farming practices on the ground?

We’ve been able to do something incredible: offer farmers a way to optimize their nitrogen applications to improve nutrient uptake, efficiency and ultimately their productivity and ROI. And because we use fermentation production, we have minimal manufacturing emissions and use 99.9% less water than other forms of nitrogen production.

Combined, that translates to a significant impact. Our microbes have been used on close to 15 million acres since our commercial launch six years ago. During that time, our customers have avoided the emissions equivalent to about three and a half gas-fired power plants operating for a year. Even more important, are the stories we hear directly from growers. Thanks to them, we introduced a new product for cotton this year. They asked for a solution and believed in how our product works. Their stewardship led us to the launch of a brand-new crop category. This product has the potential to be used in the United States, and in other countries that grow cotton, such as Brazil.

As we celebrate Earth Month, sustainability is top of mind for many. How does Pivot Bio’s technology specifically address some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing agriculture today?

By delivering nitrogen at the roots of a plant consistently throughout the growing season, we can provide farmers with a new tool to reduce the amount lost to the environment. That means cleaner air and water and more profitable farms. As populations and demand for agricultural products grow, this technology is helping farmers improve their productivity while remaining powerful stewards of the land. In Africa, our products are showing 50–70% yield gains, which is great for the environment and the wellbeing of the people in those communities.

Pivot Bio has expanded globally, and you’re now reaching international markets like Brazil. What are some of the unique challenges and opportunities you see when introducing sustainable agricultural solutions in different parts of the world?

Right now, Pivot’s products are being used by farmers in the U.S., Kenya and Brazil. In the U.S. they are helping to improve yields and environmental stewardship. In Brazil, a country that depends on agriculture but imports about 95% of its nitrogen fertilizers, we hope they will both improve productivity and national resilience. In a country like Kenya, where smallholder farmers struggle to get enough fertilizer, they are helping to as much as double yields. We see enormous opportunity ahead and are focused on building a sustainable business so we can deliver on that opportunity. That means investing in our people, innovating relentlessly, failing fast and ultimately, letting service to farmers be our north star.

Looking beyond nitrogen, are there other agricultural challenges that Pivot Bio is exploring to tackle in the future, and how might your technology expand to address those?

Crop nutrition is at the beginning of a long-needed innovation cycle in large part due to the deeper understanding of nitrogen that Pivot is helping to drive. In the future, we want to serve our customers with a complete crop nutrition platform through partnerships and acquisitions that can help our customers navigate the complexity of producing the highest yield, as efficiently as possible, in the face of growing volatility. We have a lot of ideas and are in the process of working with an incredible team to ensure we are serving today’s customers—that is job one—and then to put our sights on scaling our business for the future. There are so many partners and companies who would like to work with, and we them—the opportunities are limitless.

Earlier on in your career you worked on Wall Street with a focus on agriculture companies. What influenced you to transition into more hands-on leadership roles within agtech and sustainable agriculture?

Early in my career on Wall Street, I focused on finance, trading, commodities and agriculture, working for companies like Piper Jaffray and Continental Grain—one of the oldest and most respected names in the industry. I was a leader of Conti’s venture fund with a small group of committed people. That experience with one of the longest tenured family-owned businesses over 210+ years, and emerging growth companies, gave me an inside look at businesses that were on the leading edge of agtech innovation and a deep appreciation for how foundational agriculture is to the global economy and society. It also made clear the urgent need for more sustainable solutions to meet the challenges of feeding a growing population while protecting natural resources. That perspective ultimately motivated me to move from advising companies to helping build them—taking on leadership roles where I could directly shape innovations that create lasting value for farmers, the environment and future generations.

How do you measure success in your work at Pivot Bio, both in terms of company milestones and the broader impact your products have on the environment and society?

Success at Pivot Bio is measured on two levels. First, we track clear company milestones such as product innovation, commercial growth, farmer adoption and our ability to scale sustainably. But equally important is the broader impact: how effectively we are helping replace synthetic nitrogen, improve soil health, reduce emissions and create more resilient agricultural systems. True success means advancing both our business goals and our mission to deliver better outcomes for farmers, the environment and society. For us, it’s all about delivering value to growers and ensuring we are focusing on our mission to improve the lives of farmers and the health of our planet. There is an incredible group of investors that believe in that mission and are helping to guide us as we evolve into an even more dynamic and leading company.

Lastly, what advice would you offer to young people preparing to enter the industry today?

Stay curious, stay adaptable and stay true to your values. Then, you need to outwork everyone by finding ways to improve every day—you decide what to improve and how to do it. It can be professional or personal. The industry is changing faster than ever—those who succeed will be the ones who combine deep expertise with the ability to learn, collaborate and lead with integrity. Companies like ours are looking for people with strong scientific, engineering and commercial product development backgrounds—those who can help turn innovation into real-world impact. Focus on building relationships, understanding the science and technology driving change, and never lose sight of the broader good your work can achieve.