Exploring Microbial Potential for Sustainable Agriculture

Microbes play diverse roles in agriculture. They are present in soil, in or on plant parts, and are also found associated with livestock. Soil microbes regulate biogeochemical cycles and cycling of organic matter and nutrients. They secrete compounds that promote growth of the plants by direct or indirect pathways. Many microbes possess catabolic genes that can degrade pesticides. Microbes also work against phytopathogens by inducing resistance in plants, hyperparasitism, antibiosis, competing for nutrients or space, or by producing secondary metabolites. Microbial balance in the gut of the ruminants influences their health and thus their productivity. More recently, in order to improve agricultural production, role of microbes has been explored for developing agricultural practices like organic farming and Climate Smart Agriculture. An understanding of these diverse roles of microbes can aid in the development of microbial interventions for sustainable agriculture, such as development of biofertilizers, bioremediation techniques, use as biocontrol agents or plant growth promoters. Sustainable agricultural production is essential to beat hunger, improve health and well-being and it also contributes towards the economic growth of a nation. In this article, we explore the diverse roles of microbes in agriculture, including modern agricultural practices. We discuss the role of ‘omics’ technologies, to study the microbial communities that have opened a wide arena for designing and developing microbial interventions for sustainable agricultural production. In view of these roles, it is proposed that a greater emphasis needs to be laid on framing policies which incentivize use of microbes in agriculture, as it is the only way forward to ensure sustainable agricultural production and good health of ecosystems and humans.