Microbial genetic resources in food security to face COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

<p>COVID-19 has had an impact on the regional and worldwide agricultural value chain, jeopardizing food security. It is time to reassess the approach of the agri-food sector and to consider that the food supply and plant health, as agrosystemic services, must depend on strategies with a low impact on productive and environmental assets. One strategy is the use and optimization of microbial genetic resources (MGR) related to agroecosystems as a source of balance, functionality, productivity, inhibition of the impact of pests and pathogens, and contribution to the profitability of agri-food activity. It is necessary to strengthen and develop regional agricultural systems that are dynamic, that mitigate damages to the environment and produce nutritional and nutraceutical foods that ensure human health. Agricultural sciences are undergoing changes in scientific paradigms that will benefit the agri-food sector if we are able to learn from the impacts of an extensive technological agriculture. Approaching agriculture from an agro-systemic point of view in which the crop-community is the functional biological unit of study and to preserve the MGR diversity are the greatest challenges to create sustainable and resilient strategies and technologies that contribute towards human health and help prevent risks during health crises such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.</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.…”