Fieldstone Bio, an innovative biotechnology firm, is pioneering the use of genetically engineered microbes as living sensors, capable of detecting everything from explosives such as TNT to hazardous substances like arsenic. Originated from advanced research at MIT, the startup is taking advantage of nature’s own technology—microorganisms—to provide invaluable data about otherwise invisible environmental threats.
Brandon Fields, co-founder and chief science officer, describes these microbes as highly sophisticated natural sensors that can continually perform trillions of environmental measurements simultaneously. Leveraging breakthroughs from Professor Chris Voigt’s lab at MIT, the researchers have genetically modified microbes to visibly change color upon encountering specific chemical signatures. Whether assessing nutrient concentrations in agricultural soil or identifying hidden explosive residues, the microbes serve as precise indicators of their surrounding environment.
The company recently announced it raised $5 million in seed funding in a round led by Ubiquity Ventures, joined by E14 and LDV Capital. Fieldstone intends to use these funds to transition the developed technology from the laboratory to practical testing. The startup currently develops unique microbial strains tailored to detect particular substances of interest, such as nitrogen present in crop fields or TNT residues left by landmines.
The process begins with isolating naturally occurring microbes adapted to the intended environments. The DNA sequence engineered to detect target chemicals is introduced into these microbes, and the most effective strains are identified through rigorous testing. Once ready, Fieldstone spreads these specialized microbes over a chosen location using drones. After giving the microbes adequate time—ranging from several hours up to days—to interact with their surroundings, another drone scans the terrain with hyperspectral cameras.
Unlike standard photography, hyperspectral images capture hundreds of distinct wavelengths across visible and infrared spectrums. The microbes engineered by Fieldstone fluoresce at very specific wavelengths when reacting to targeted substances. Using advanced artificial intelligence models trained on this hyperspectral imagery, Fieldstone can create accurate and highly detailed maps showing exactly where contaminants or explosive materials exist.
Beyond potential applications in agricultural monitoring and national security, Fieldstone sees substantial opportunities in environmental remediation. CEO Patrick Stone highlighted the significant advantage their sensors offer: instead of taking staggered physical soil samples spaced apart widely, Fieldstone’s microbial sensors could precisely pinpoint contamination sites down to inches, significantly improving efficiency and reducing cleanup costs.
Understanding public sensitivities around genetic modification, the company has proactively engaged with regulatory bodies, including the EPA, to ensure full compliance and transparency regarding their use of genetically altered microbes.
Looking further ahead, Fields envisions building large-scale datasets that could enable direct substance detection through hyperspectral cameras alone, without needing frequent microbial deployment. By correlating microbial sensor data with environmental hyperspectral information, future AI models could potentially identify environmental contaminants remotely on a global scale.
Fieldstone Bio’s ambitious technology could fundamentally alter our ability to monitor and respond to environmental, agricultural, and security challenges, reshaping how humanity perceives and interacts with a largely unseen world.
