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Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers pollute waterways and account for about 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Pivot Bio’s alternative, Proven 40 OS, uses naturally occurring microbes that live on a plant’s root system and release nitrogen. The result? Higher crop yields with a fraction of the emissions footprint and no leaching. Pivot Bio’s product gets added to corn seeds before they reach farmers, eliminating the need for special equipment and time-intensive application. The company has other fertilizers in its crosshairs, too.

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