**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN NATURE, MICROBES PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES IN PROTECTING PLANTS FROM EVENTS SUCH AS DROUGHT AND INFECTION. OCCASIONALLY WE UNDERSTAND HOW A MICROBE IS ABLE TO HELP THE PLANT, BUT OFTEN IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH INCREASINGLY HARSH CONDITIONS AS CLIMATES CHANGE. OUR ABILITY TO ENGINEER MICROBES HAS IMPROVED SUBSTANTIALLY IN RECENT YEARS SUCH THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TOINSTRUCT A MICROBE TO PRODUCE EXACTLY WHAT A PLANT NEEDS WHEN IT NEEDS IT. WE ALSO HAVE NEW APPROACHES THAT PREVENT A MICROBE FROM GROWING UNLESS IT IS GIVEN ASPECIAL CHEMICAL THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THE MICROBE CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT THE CHEMICAL, HOW MUCH OF A BENEFICIAL MOLECULEIT SHOULD MAKE TO HELP PROTECT A CROP, AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IF ANY IT CAN ACTUALLY HELP PROTECT THISCROP. THIS PROJECT USES MICROBIAL ENGINEERING IN THE SPIRIT OF ANSWERING ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS WITH THE GOAL OF HARNESSING BIOTECHNOLOGY TO SAFELY IMPROVE CROP YIELDS AND TO INFORM RISK ASSESSMENT.