The brief
- PROVEN 40 claims to supply up to 40 lb of nitrogen per acre of corn over a season.
- Raised a $430M Series D in 2021, valuing it above $2B.
- Cut prices and expanded production in March 2026 as fertiliser prices swung.
Technical approach
Microbes
Bacteria that already live on roots
It starts with natural root bacteria (Kosakonia sacchari, Klebsiella variicola) found on cereal crops.
Editing
Removing the off-switch
The bacteria normally stop making nitrogen when fertiliser is around; small edits, with no foreign DNA, keep them working.
Delivery
Applied at planting
Microbes go into the seed furrow or onto the seed; they settle on the roots and feed the plant all season.
Programs
Pivot Bio, one program
Updated 31 Mar 2026
Research · Proto · Pilot · Deploy · Scaling
Research & demos
- 2021paperEnabling biological nitrogen fixation for cereal crops in fertilized fields (ACS Synthetic Biology) (opens doi.org)PROVEN 40
Explains the gene changes that keep nitrogen fixing switched on in fertilised soil.
Open technical problems
- Uneven results in the fieldActive research
How well microbes settle and deliver nitrogen varies with soil, weather and corn variety, so yield gains are inconsistent.
- Measuring nitrogen contributionOpen
It is hard to tell how much nitrogen microbes supplied on a real farm, which clouds value and carbon-credit claims.
Peers
Company & funding
- Raised
- $430Mdisclosed private rounds
- Last round
- Series DJul 2021
- HQ
- US
- Founded
- 2011
| Date | Round | Amount | Post-money | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2021 | Series D | $430M | — | DCVC, Temasek |
Partners & customers
- Investor
- Investor
Co-led the 2021 Series D
- Investor
Co-led the 2021 Series D