Advances in Microbial Biotechnology: Lessons from Intensive Agriculture Compatible with Organic Farming

Abstract

The use of plant-growth-promoting microbes in agriculture is expected to double over the next decade due to several advantages. For example, they have a positive impact on soil health, and product yields and can increase traditional fertilizer’s bioavailability, reducing their use. This is based on the diverse metabolic capabilities conferred by microbes which are required by plants for a healthy development. Their application can be based either on microbial isolates or communities. The former comprises a reductionist approach that maximizes microbial load and few metabolic traits. Inversely, the latter focuses on metabolic diversity. Since fertile soils have diverse microbial communities or microbiomes, methods that replicate this habitat at an industrial scale can unlock a new class of bioadditives for organic and traditional farming. Moreover, since microbes can reduce traditional fertilizer use, which is the main contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture, these biotechnologies can help decarbonize this industry. Therefore, in view of the role of microbes in soil health and nutrient management, efforts in fundamental and translational research on this topic are further needed. Thus, this chapter will explore the use of microbial biotechnology in agriculture, with a focus on a case study of a microbiome-based bioadditive.