In the final session of the Princeton Bioethics Exchange this spring, participants examined how advances in microbial engineering affect agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Led by Jonathan Conway (CBE) and Emily Singer (MOL Graduate Student and CST Bioethics University Administrative Fellow), the discussion explored how reprogrammed microbes might reduce fertilizer use, promote plant growth, and reshape soil ecosystems.

The group considered the broader implications of large-scale environmental applications and how ecological complexity, societal priorities, and scientific responsibility must all factor in weighing innovation against risk.