# Using Methane-Eating Bacteria to Combat Climate Change: A Discussion with Josh Silverman, CEO at Windfall Bio

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2023-12-07
- Length: 47m
- Episode: 41
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/2nxkx768-josh-silverman-using-methane-eating-bacteria

## Summary

Dr. Josh Silverman, CEO and founder of Windfall Bio, explains how his company uses methane-eating bacteria (methanotrophs) to remove methane from agriculture and industrial sources while producing nitrogen-rich fertilizer. He details the hardware solutions, including aerated static piles for compost and trickle-bed reactors, designed to handle varying methane concentrations from dilute barn air to concentrated digester gas. Silverman discusses the business model, which prioritizes economic value for farmers through fertilizer savings over carbon credits, and addresses the challenge of scaling production via contract manufacturing to meet potential rapid adoption.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=3) Introduction: Josh Silverman and Windfall Bio
- [1:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=109) Career Pivot: From Pharma to Climate Tech
- [4:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=290) Understanding Farmer Economics and the Green Premium
- [8:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=518) Methane as Feedstock: Soluria, Callista, and Windfall Bio
- [18:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=1099) Hardware Solutions: Reactors, Compost, and Monitoring
- [25:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=1553) Fundraising Challenges and Methane's Role in Climate Change
- [33:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=2014) Measuring Impact and Incentive Alignment
- [39:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=2349) Scalability: Biology vs. Chemical Engineering
- [43:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si#t=2588) Scaling Production via Contract Manufacturing

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Windfall Bio (company)
- Callista (company)
- Soluria (company)
- Stanford (other)
- IPCC (other)
- Bill Gates (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Microbes, meat and materials: biotech meets climatetech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-01-18-microbes-meat-and-materials-biotech-meets-climatetech) (Catalyst)
- [This episode is trash](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash) (Catalyst)
- [Why methane matters](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-22-why-methane-matters) (Catalyst)
- [Building a decarbonization army with Shashank Samala of Heirloom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-08-building-a-decarbonization-army-with-shashank-samala-of-heirloom) (How I Built This)
- [Meet The HIBT Fellows: Dinesh Tadepalli & Jennifer Zeitler](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-05-25-meet-the-hibt-fellows-dinesh-tadepalli-jennifer-zeitler) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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