Advancing sustainable agriculture through beneficial microbes: From microbial physiology to synthetic community-based innovations

Abstract

This is a review of the use of effective microorganisms (EM) in sustainable agriculture to improve soil quality, increase crop yields, and control plant diseases. This review aims to contribute to understanding sustainable agriculture using microbes for our benefit by integrating microbial physiology and synthetic microbial innovations, with respect to community-level microbial interactions. Using a literature search strategy, the physiological mechanisms by which EM may enhance soil fertility through improved nutrient cycling and increased nutrient availability to plants, and/or by creating or modifying soil structure to support root growth, were described. Results showed that EM also increase the ability of plants to grow despite biotic stressors, such as soil-borne pathogens, through both the creation of antimicrobial compounds and competitive exclusion. Microbes also enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stressors, such as water loss from drought or salt accumulation, by altering how plants respond physiologically and by retaining soil moisture. This could be achieved by using effective microbes in agriculture via synthetic microbial communities (SynCom), which will enable greater resource efficiency, a lower environmental footprint, and contribute to achieving food security while addressing current global issues such as climate change and growing populations. However, there is still much to be learned about the long-term ecological implications, scalability, regulatory environments, and socio-economic feasibility of agricultural technologies based on microorganisms and SynComs, especially in developing and climate-vulnerable countries. Therefore, a comprehensive review that links microbial physiology, SynCom design, empirical data from crop studies, and future paths to innovation is both timely and needed.