Thread by @samdknowlton

While industrial agriculture spent billions breeding corn varieties that require MORE fertilizer a little-known plant geneticist has done the opposite.

Dr. Walter Goldstein breeds corn varieties that literally feed themselves.

Here’s how his discoveries can reshape modern ag.

In studying corn genetics, Goldstein made a revelatory discovery – Modern corn had in large part lost its ability to partner with soil microbes.

But through careful breeding, he could bring this ancient ability back.

Goldstein developed corn varieties that could effectively form relationships with nitrogen fixing bacteria - an extreme anomaly for non-legume plants.

Some of these varieties get nearly half their nitrogen requirements this way.

But nitrogen fixing was just the beginning. Goldstein's corn varieties developed:

- Deeper root systems
- Better nutrient acquisition abilities
- Natural pest resistance
- Higher nutrient density
- Yields on par with conventional varieties

All without chemical inputs

Instead of lab based breeding, Goldstein utilizes participatory breeding.

He works directly with farmers to select traits that perform in real world conditions.

Target traits are: nitrogen efficiency, root architecture, nutrient density, soil microbe partnerships.

The implications of Goldstein’s work are nothing short of revolutionary.

If corn can feed itself through bacterial partnerships, our entire approach to agriculture might be based on a fundamental misunderstanding of plant nutrition.