**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AS A COMMON BIOINOCULANT, MAXIMIZING THE EFFICIENCY OF AZOSPIRILLIUM BRASILENSE IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL SINCE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS ARE COSTLY FOR BOTH FARMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. ADDITIONALLY, GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE IS CREATING MORE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS FOR CROP PRODUCTION, INCLUDING INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS. THEREFORE, TO MAINTAIN CURRENT YIELDS AND MEET THE DEMANDS OF A GROWING POPULATION WE MUST MAKE INVESTMENTS INTO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INTENSIFICATION, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOST- AND STRESS-ADAPTED BIOINOCULANTS. BY UTILIZING APPROACHES, SUCH AS EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION, WE CAN IMPOSE RECURRENT SELECTION ON BIOINOCULANT STRAINS TO IMPROVE THEIR SUCCESS IN A GIVEN ENVIRONMENT. HERE, WE UTILIZE AN EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION APPROACH WITH A. BRASILENSE UNDER VARIOUS HOST AND STRESS TREATMENTS TO SIMULATE FIELD CONDITIONS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP STRAINS THAT ARE ADAPTED TO SPECIFIC PLANT HOSTS OR ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES, WHICH MAY MAKE THEM MORE EFFICACIOUSIN THAT ENVIRONMENT THAN THEIR NON-ADAPTED COUNTERPARTS. ADDITIONALLY, BY EXAMINING THE GENOMES OF THE ADAPTED STRAINS, WE MAY DISCOVER GENETIC PATHWAYS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR HOST OR STRESS FUNCTIONS IN BACTERIA. ULTIMATELY, THIS PROJECT MAY CONSTITUTE AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS DEVELOPING MORE EFFICACIOUS PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTING STRAINS, WHICH MAY INFLUENCE HOW BIOINOCULANTS ARE SELECTED IN THE FUTURE.