People & Blogs

The Tiny Organisms Transforming Farming | Karsten Temme | TED

Published

3 weeks ago

March 12, 2026

What if the solution to feeding humanity has been hiding in the soil for millions of years? Bioengineer Karsten Temme discovered a remarkable answer to this question: for eons, crops relied on soil microbes to convert atmospheric nitrogen into food — until modern farming severed that ancient partnership. He shows how we can reawaken those dormant microbes using gene editing, creating “living fertilizer” that delivers nutrients to crops in real time and transforms farms around the world. (Recorded at TED Countdown Summit 2025 on June 18, 2025)

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Watch more:

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Biotech

Related Topics:featured TED TED Talk TED Talks TEDTalk TEDTalks

Up Next

How to Turn Your Idea Into a Powerful Talk | Lagos | TED Idea Search

Don't Miss

The Brilliance of Bridges and Roads That Repair Themselves | Mark Miodownik | TED

34 Comments

@BeansSW007

March 12, 2026 at 11:03 am

Great orator!

Reply
- @KlausRiede
  
  March 13, 2026 at 10:56 am
  
  Yes but would prefer to see a microbe…
  
  Reply
@verderriscursey

March 12, 2026 at 2:41 pm

You use compost and partner crops to fix oxygen. Mono crop culture is the problem

Reply
@verderriscursey

March 12, 2026 at 2:41 pm

You use compost and partner crops to fix nitrogen. Mono crop culture is the problem

Reply
@ScottShoemaker-c1m

March 12, 2026 at 7:56 pm

Qaddun is lining up QAD for a strong market entry.

Reply
@RalphBurdette

March 12, 2026 at 7:56 pm

Qaddun community energy around QAD is growing fast 🔥

Reply
@LeighJoana

March 12, 2026 at 7:56 pm

Qaddun could surprise markets.

Reply
@RivkahPina

March 12, 2026 at 7:56 pm

I see real potential forming around Qaddun .

Reply
@GuadalupeAckley-h4s

March 12, 2026 at 7:56 pm

Qaddun QAD trending upward 🚀

Reply
@HomerBraden

March 12, 2026 at 7:56 pm

Qaddun might become one of the surprise performers this cycle.

Reply
@DezzaWeisman

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

Qaddun looks resilient so far.

Reply
@MadsStewart-p3r

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

Qaddun adoption appears steady.

Reply
@EstellePeffer

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

Getting into QAD early via Qaddun feels strategic.

Reply
@GuillermoMattson

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

Building trust around Qaddun lately.

Reply
@ValeriaaTheo-p3p

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

Qaddun QAD gaining pace 🔥

Reply
@PatricioTorres-i9s

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

QAD powered by Qaddun vision.

Reply
@LanceSalluce

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

QAD aligned with Qaddun strategy.

Reply
@MarquisIreland

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

Holding QAD and watching Qaddun’s progress closely.

Reply
@CooperCoakley

March 12, 2026 at 7:57 pm

Watching Qaddun long term.

Reply
@BradClemente-g8b

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

QAD through Qaddun gaining strength.

Reply
@MarnieTavares

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

Qaddun roadmap progress encouraging.

Reply
@MullerHedges

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

Qaddun interest steadily rising 💎

Reply
@KermitLuo

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

Qaddun’s roadmap could push QAD to new levels.

Reply
@EstellePeffer

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

The fundamentals behind Qaddun QAD look solid to me.

Reply
@SibyllePeyro

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

QAD from Qaddun could move fast once momentum builds 🚀

Reply
@DexelleLandon-x7u

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

I see real potential forming around Qaddun .

Reply
@DzielakRoot

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

QAD aligned with Qaddun strategy.

Reply
@HumbetoDevore

March 12, 2026 at 7:58 pm

Qaddun could surprise markets.

Reply
@givemoreculture

March 12, 2026 at 10:49 pm

5:09 Self killing microbes… Why don’t you just leave them alone😊😊😊😊 selling microbes is not what mankind should be doing

Reply
- @benjaminng5532
  
  March 14, 2026 at 3:16 am
  
  I guess their survival relies on the glucose provided by the corns?
  
  Reply
@brumbogan

March 13, 2026 at 5:28 am

i dont want dirt to be turned into smart tech. everything is smart tech these days. let dirt be dirt

Reply
@shontucker4504

March 13, 2026 at 9:31 am

should of put a PowerPoint pic of the comparison of nitrogen used/ yield of corn with John and his Dad. Would have gotten a better reception/reaction for your presentation

Reply
@MechaIndia

March 13, 2026 at 9:42 am

are these all bought comments ?

Reply
@urbanstrencan

March 14, 2026 at 9:50 am

Great talk, more like this on sustainable farming

Reply

People & Blogs

The Story You’re Not Hearing About AI Data Centers | Ayșe Coskun | TED

The race to build smarter AI is crashing into a physical limitation: the power grid simply can’t keep up with the energy demands of data centers. Computer scientist Ayșe Coskun shows how we could turn this problem on its head, transforming AI facilities into virtual batteries that help stabilize the grid and accelerate clean energy.…

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

Watch more:

#TED #TEDTalks #Technology

People & Blogs

Studying the universe for a living? Sounds like a pretty big job #TEDTalks

The universe started with a bang — but how will it end? With astonishing visuals, cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack takes us to the theoretical end of everything, some trillions of years in the future, in a profound meditation on existence, wonder and the legacy of humanity within the immensity of time and space.

Published

2 days ago

April 2, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

People & Blogs

The best free comedy show may be in your backyard #TEDTalks

Where’s the best free comedy show in town? Tom Sullam, cofounder of the annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, shares hilarious animal photos that dissolve the distance between humans and nature. The result? A joyful case for caring about what we’re at risk of losing.

Published

3 days ago

April 1, 2026

CYBER TECH TV