While a meal produced entirely by microbes might still be years away, researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science are working to genetically engineer bacteria to produce food from the air.

Several years ago, the laboratory of Prof. Ron Milo became the first to synthesize a bacterium that grows by “eating” carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, rather than being fed carbohydrates (such as sugars).

In its latest breakthrough, the laboratory has programmed E. coli bacteria to develop specialized “body structures” capable of absorbing much larger quantities of CO₂ with which to grow faster.

The long-term aim is to develop a bacterium that can be fed solely on CO₂ and provide a food source for humans and animals.

The breakthrough was presented this month at the annual Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences conference in Jerusalem by Klil Halevi, a master’s student who is one of five researchers working on the project.

“Our ambitious goal for our microbes is that they carry out a process similar to that undertaken by plants,” said Halevi.

“Plants use water, CO₂, and the energy of the sun to produce carbohydrates with which to build their bodies,” he added. “They are at the bottom of the food chain, providing energy, through carbohydrates, to herbivores, which are eaten by carnivores.”

Halevi noted that agriculture and other land uses, such as grazing, which form the foundation of human food systems, are fragile. They already occupy roughly 45........

© The Times of Israel