Plants are part of a rich ecosystem that comprises numerous and diverse microorganisms that live in the soil. It’s long been known that some of these microbes, like certain types of fungi or nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria, play an important role in crop health and yield by improving mineral nutrition. However, it’s only been recently that researchers have begun to uncover the full extent of these organisms’ impact and the role they could play in replacing synthetic agricultural inputs.
Considering the challenges the agricultural ecosystem faces, this research is of vital importance. As we progress further into the 21st century, it’s crucial that we find solutions to produce nutritious food for a growing world population. Considering this is increasing at a rate of 1.14% per year and set to reach 9.5 billion by 2050, it is an urgent project. Equally, the climate crisis is spurring demand for biofuels, which need to be cultivated in sufficient quantities without impacting food production.