Giving farmers a more sustainable way to protect crops
Led by Andee Wallace PhD ’20, Robigo uses cutting-edge biotechnology to engineer microbes to fight pests, reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides.
Playing against climate risk
Climate scientist Sai Ravela is using games to help coastal communities find creative adaptations to climate change.
Paving the way for greener ammonia production
New MIT research could lead to better materials for a fossil-fuel-free process for making the chemical that's essential to fertilizer and other products.
Creating innovations that scale across borders
A new book coauthored by Professor Amos Winter asserts that, to solve major challenges and deliver products of value to consumers in both developed and emerging markets, innovators must think and act globally.
MIT engineers connect bacteria to create living transistors
By wiring together colonies of these bacteria, the researchers built circuits that can perform complicated calculations.
Place-based pathways to a viable future
Living Climate Futures Symposium explores climate challenges and solutions at the community level.
Testing sustainable agriculture in Barcelona
Students in a MISTI Global Classroom confronted the challenges of climate change, one farm and co-op visit at a time.
Plants can sense the sound of rain, a new study finds
Experiments by MIT engineers show rice seeds sprout faster to the sound of rain.
From Idaho to MIT, on a quest to cut methane emissions
PhD student Audrey Parker studies methane mitigation strategies in dairy farms and coal mines, to reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas.
Seeds of something different
Kate Brown’s book, “Tiny Gardens Everywhere,” examines the hidden history of urban farming, its extensive use, and the politics of growing food.
Nitrous oxide, a product of fertilizer use, may harm some soil bacteria
While some N2O is produced naturally at the plant root, agricultural practices can increase its levels, to the detriment of some microbes that support plant growth.
Designing a more resilient future for plants, from the cell up
Foray Bioscience, founded by Ashley Beckwith SM ’18, PhD ’22, is engineering single plant cells to create new materials and meet growing demand.
Bridging science and society in the emerging bioeconomy
In STS.059 (The Bioeconomy and Society), students explore the social and political factors at work in the biology, biotech, and biological engineering sectors.
Exploring the promise of regenerative aquaculture at an Arkansas fish farm
Through research with MIT D-Lab, MIT engineering student Kiyoko “Kik” Hayano worked with Keo Fish Farms to build a model for regenerative water systems.
Post-COP30, more aggressive policies needed to cap global warming at 1.5 C
Global Change Outlook report for 2025 shows how accelerated action can reduce climate risks and improve sustainability outcomes, while highlighting potential geopolitical hurdles.