Research
Mobile Research

(Geo)(bio)(technology):

Critical resource challenges, biological solutions

(Geo)(bio)(technology):

Critical resource challenges, biological solutions

What's new in geobiotechnology?

We are thrilled to announce an open-source techno-economic analysis (TEA) resource specifically built around copper extraction from chalcopyrite heap leaches, and developed in collaboration with the team at Conductor Labs. As part of our Orecast project – intended to help biomining innovators determine if their technologies have a viable path to market – this Excel-based tool is designed to put scientists in the “Command Center” of a mine: illustrating how value is created, and showing what biology can do to move the needle on costs and revenues.

 

Follow the link below to read our manual and access the editable TEA:

Orecast Manual

What is geobiotechnology?

 

Life on Earth began when microbes (or something that became microbes) started eating and breathing rocks. Microbes are still doing that – in fact, they’ve gotten pretty good at it in the last 3.7 billion years!

 

Geobiotechnology takes advantage of this pre-existing relationship. Biotechnologies can be cheaper, more scalable and less damaging to the environment than traditional methods in mining and energy production. At Homeworld, we foster geobiotechnologies, helping put Earth’s first lifeforms to work and making the Earth a better place for everyone.

Why use geobiotechnology?

Microbes have been shaping Earth’s geology for billions of years—dissolving minerals, forming ores, and even generating energy. Geobiotechnology taps into these natural processes to unlock new ways of extracting critical metals, producing geologic hydrogen, and engineering sustainable resource cycles. By working with microbe-rock interactions instead of against them, we can build cleaner, more efficient alternatives to traditional mining and energy production.

Homeworld's approach in geobiotechnology

Funding
We offer small grants to fund climate biotech research through our Garden Grants program. We anticipate launching a Garden Grants program around geobiotechnology in early 2026. Please join our email list to receive an announcement when this program launches!
Problem statements
We identify the biggest bottlenecks in geobiotechnology research and work to address those constraints. To read about some of the currently-identified bottlenecks in geobiotechnology, view our Problem Statement Repository with the tag “Geobiotechnology.” To work with Homeworld to contribute a problem statement, email geobiotech@homeworld.bio.
Workshops
We organize gatherings to identify and solve problems and bottlenecks in the field. Additionally, we hold educational workshops to develop broader understanding and knowledge transfer around difficulties in this field.

Resources for geobiotechnology

  • Biomining TEA model
Orecast: Open-Source TEA for Chalcopyrite Biomining
The problem:

The scale of cost and infrastructure in mining is difficult to grasp until you’ve worked at a mine. This is particularly challenging to internalize when coming out of academia as a biotechnologist or geobiologist. If we want the best and brightest of academic solutions for mining problems to make it into full-scale production, then academics need to speak the language of mining economics.

The resource:

Our Orecast project produces open-source techno-economic analyses (TEAs) for biomining. These TEAs help translate laboratory successes into economic realities. With our first TEA - designed for chalcopyrite heap leaching, a historic application for biology in mining - biologists can learn the rungs of a TEA, adapt it to their own use or data, and predict if their technology has a realistic path to market. However, this tool isn’t only for biotech innovators - students, funders, mining professionals and more are also more than welcome to use this tool to start bridging the gap between biotechnology and mining.

How can I get involved?

Are you a researcher, funder, potential industry partner, or simply just interested to learn more about Homeworld’s geobiotechnology program? Contact us at geobiotech@homeworld.bio and become a part of our journey or let us help you on yours!