Switch Bioworks, a biotechnology company developing low-cost and sustainable fertilizers, announced today the addition of two senior leaders to its executive team and a move into a new, dedicated corporate headquarters and R&D facility in San Carlos, California.
Steve del Cardayre, PhD, joins as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), bringing over 25 years of experience in building and commercializing product platforms in microbial engineering and industrial biotechnology. He was
most recently Co-founder and CTO of Zero Acre Farms, where he led the development of a novel oil platform using non-conventional yeast. Steve previously held senior roles at Renewable Energy Group, Codexis, Maxygen, and was a Co-founder of LS9, where he helped pioneer sustainable microbial production of fuels and chemicals.
“Fertilizer is the bedrock of crop production, supporting food security worldwide. Switch is uniquely positioned to transform this industry with biotechnology—helping farmers earn more, feed more people, and care for their land and the planet we all rely on,” said del Cardayre. “I’m thrilled to join this exceptional team and support the scaling and delivery of this technology to the field.”
Brett Boghigian, PhD, joins Switch as Chief Business Officer (CBO), bringing nearly 20 years of leadership across agricultural and industrial biotech, and venture-backed life sciences innovation. He most recently served as SVP at Mori and spent the prior 12 years in the Flagship Pioneering ecosystem. At Indigo Ag, Brett held leadership roles across business and product development, helping grow the company from inception to
scale and launching 20+ microbial products used on tens of millions of acres globally.
“Our R&D team’s achievements have set a powerful foundation, and Switch is now entering a new chapter of customer-driven innovation,” said Dr. Boghigian. “I’m eager to expand strategic partnerships across the value chain and work closely with growers to advance our product development.”
To support continued growth, Switch Bioworks has moved to new headquarters in San Carlos, CA, tripling its R&D footprint. The new facility includes fermentation capacity, plant grow rooms, laboratory, and office space under one roof.
“Our new home isn’t just more space—it’s a launchpad for our mission-driven team, platform, and products,” said Dr. Tim Schnabel, founder and CEO of Switch Bioworks. “With Steve and Brett on board, we have the leadership, experience, and spirit to accelerate the development of next-generation fertilizers that society depends on to grow enough food, sustainably and affordably.”
