What To Know About New Microbial Solution That Helps Crops Thrive With Less Water

Impello Biosciences, a Colorado-based agricultural biologicals company founded by Colorado State University graduates, has announced the launch of Qμench, a microbial product developed to help plants better tolerate drought conditions by improving internal water balance and nutrient function.

After five years of research and field validation, the product is being introduced first in Colorado, where ultra dry conditions and water-use limitations are top of mind for municipalities, growers, landscapers, and more.

Using Microbes to Support Plant Water Function

The range of benefits microbes provide is vast, from solubilizing key nutrients, to displacing pathogens, to stimulating better root architecture. However, to date, most products are built with only one species of microbe, which is not how they exist or do their job in nature. In contrast, most of the benefit of crop by microbe interactions arise when microbes work together in a community of species, which is  why Quench and the other products in Impello’s microbial line are assembled from multiple species and grown together to maximize their benefit once they are added to growing environments.

The species in Qμench, from the genus Luteibacter and Pseudomonas were selected through a screening process designed to identify microbes that support plant growth under reduced irrigation. Rather than supplying water directly, the product works by influencing how plants manage water internally—helping them maintain function under stress through improved osmotic balance and nutrient movement.

As water constraints continue to shape agriculture and landscaping across the western United States, tools that improve plant efficiency—not just inputs—are expected to play a growing role. For Impello, the launch of Qμench represents both a new product and a broader direction: using biological systems to help plants function under real-world pressure.

“This isn’t about replacing water,” says Michael Key, cofounder and CEO of Impello Biosciences. “It’s about helping plants use the water they have more effectively.”

For more information, visit impellobio.com.