Israeli scientists engineer E. coli to turn CO2 into food, advancing carbon utilization research

Researchers at Israel's Weizmann Institute have engineered E. coli bacteria to absorb more CO2 and grow faster, aiming to produce food from carbon dioxide instead of traditional agriculture. The work builds on earlier creation of bacteria that can grow on CO2 instead of carbohydrates, with potential to supplement or replace parts of the food system. The team presented findings at the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences conference in July 2026. While the technology is years from practical use, it targets a process similar to photosynthesis, using only CO2, water, and solar energy. Current microbial food production still relies on sugar-based feedstocks, but this research aims to eliminate that dependency. Klil Halevi, a master's student on the project, noted that microbes can produce proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. The approach could reduce agriculture's land and water footprint, though scaling remains a challenge. Israel's history of agricultural innovation in arid conditions provides context for the research.