Changes in the research conduction on agro-biotechnology due to COVID-19: The case of LBRM-COLMENA Research Node

Abstract

<p>COVID-19 has had negative impacts on human health, economic stability, food supply chains, and global food security, increasing poverty and inequality. Institutions and laboratories worldwide have focused their efforts on the study of sustainable agro-biotechnological alternatives to contribute to food security for the present and future, as well as on mitigating the negative impacts of the ongoing pandemic. This work aims to share the experiences of our team in the Laboratorio de Biotecnología del Recurso Microbiano-Colección de Microorganismos Edáficos y Endófitos Nativos (LBRM-COLMENA) Research Node during the current health contingency, as well as the strategies implemented to continue with the research projects focused on generating knowledge in different scientific disciplines.</p>

COVID-19 Pandemic: A plant health vision of a multidimensional problem

“…A proposal to encourage research on native plant germplasm was addressed with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as a study case (Cortez-Madrigal et al, 2021). In addition, biotechnological use of microbiological resources to enhance soil nutrient availability and plant nutrient uptake; and the potential as control agents, were discussed by authors from Mexican leading public research centers (Zelaya-Molina et al, 2021;Samaniego-Gaxiola 2021;Ayala-Zepeda et al, 2021).…”

“…Agriculture can readily be integrated into a systemic and sustainable environmental model with greater efficiency than other sectors of the economy. These sectors, however, need to be incorporated into this model based on a deep review that includes the el jitomate (Solanum lycopersicum) como estudio de caso (Cortez-Madrigal et al, 2021), y el empleo biotecnológico de recursos microbiológicos como fijadores de nutrientes y como agentes de control biológico fueron discutidos por investigadores de centros públicos de investigación de vanguardia en México (Zelaya-Molina et al, 2021;Samaniego-Gaxiola 2021;Ayala-Zepeda et al, 2021).…”

“…Conservation of productive resources. It is possible to promote agriculture based on agroecosystem services optimization, conservation of productive resources, use of native germplasm, preservation of farming knowledge, and return of productive value to the producer (Ayala-Zepeda et al, 2021;Cortéz-Madrigal et al, 2021;Samaniego-Gaxiola, 2021;Zelaya-Molina et al, 2021). However, in Mexican rural areas, as in other countries, the agricultural production la recuperación prevalece para México y el resto de mundo.…”

“…Conservación de activos productivos. Es posible impulsar una Agricultura fundamentada en la optimización de servicios agroecosistémicos, conservación de activos productivos, uso de materiales vegetales nativos, preservación de saberes, retorno de valor productivo al productor (Ayala-Zepeda et al, 2021;Cortéz-Madrigal et al, 2021;Samaniego-Gaxiola, 2021;Zelaya-Molina et al, 2021). Sin embargo, el entorno rural de México y de todos los países con producción agrícola, es tecnológica, cultural y socialmente muy diverso.…”

“…A search for a new agricultural paradigm is also a challenge. For example, the export-extensive vision must be adapted to small producers by identifying opportunities in local consumption markets whereas optimizing agricultural practices with organic and biological inputs viable for small-scale agriculture (Cuevas-Castilleja et al, 2021;Ayala-Zepeda et al, 2021;Samaniego-Gaxiola, 2021;Zelaya-Molina et al, 2021). Agricultural policies cannot be established with the same free-market principles applied in secondary and tertiary economic sectors.…”