Future outlook on microbial bioprotectants in agriculture

2021 ◽  
pp. 669-690
Author(s):  
Willem J. Ravensberg ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Future Outlook ◽  
Regulatory Issues ◽  
The Future

Microbial bioprotectants have the potential to play a major role in the future of crop protection. Agriculture needs to become more sustainable and still provide food security within planetary borders. New technologies and scientific discoveries can unravel the interactions between the plant, the microbiome and the soil and provide new opportunities for crop protection and more resilient cropping systems. Regulatory issues delay and hamper exploitation and research of genetic resources. This chapter describes the factors that promote the use of microbial bioprotectants as well as those that hamper their further adoption. A sustainable and resilient agriculture depends on the microbial interactions between plants in promoting plant growth and combatting biotic and abiotic threats. The transition to a resilient agriculture requires big changes in policy, regulation and farming practices. This chapter assesses the future outlook for the methods for controlling plant diseases described in this book as well as the factors determining their uptake and success.

scholarly journals Impact of Farm Households’ Adaptations to Climate Change on Food Security: Evidence from Different Agro-ecologies of Pakistan

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (4I-II) ◽  
pp. 561-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munir Ahmad Gattoo ◽  
Ghulam Mustafa ◽  
Muhammad Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The Impact

The study used data from 3298 food crop growers in Pakistan. Potential outcome treatment effects model was applied to evaluate the impact of adaptations on household food security. A household Food Security Index (FSI) was constructed applying Principle Component Analysis (PCA). Adaptation strategies employed by the farmers in response to climate change were categorised into four groups namely: changes in sowing time (C1); input intensification (C2); water and soil conservation (C3); and changes in varieties (C4). Out of 15 mutually exclusive combinations constructed for evaluation, only 7 combinations were considered for estimating the treatment effects models because of limited number of observations in other cases. Results of only two of the 7 are discussed in the paper, as the other 5 had very small number of adapters and the impact measures shown either insignificant results or had opposite signs. The first (C1234) combined all the four, while the second (C234) combined the last three strategies. The results suggest that the households which adapted to climate changes were statistically significantly more food secure as compared to those who did not adapt. The results further show that education of the male and female heads, livestock ownership, the structure of house—both bricked and having electricity facility, crops diversification, and non-farm income are among the factors, which raise the food security of farm households and their impacts are statistically significant. The variables which are significantly negatively associated with the food security levels include age of the head of household, food expenditure management, households having less than 12.5 acres of land— defined as marginal (cultivate 6.25 to 12.5 acres). Farmers of cotton-wheat, rice-wheat, and rain-fed cropping systems are found to be more food secure as compared to the farmers working in the mixed cropping systems where farm holdings are relatively small and high use of tube-well water adding to salinity of soils. It is crucial to invest in the development of agricultural technological packages, addressing issues of climate change relevant to different ecologies and farming systems; improve research-extension-farmer linkages; enhance farmers‘ access to new technologies; improve rural infrastructure; development of weather information system linking meteorological department, extension and farmers; and establishment of targeted food safety nets as well as farm subsidy programs for marginal farm households.

scholarly journals The Brazilian beef supply chain and food security: a productive inputs view

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. e260101320895
Author(s):  
Yasmin Gomes Casagranda ◽  
Giana de Vargas Mores ◽  
Eduardo Luís Casarotto ◽  
Leila Dal Moro ◽  
Ana Flávia Siqueira Abrahão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Food Security ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
World Population ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Future ◽  
Development Goals

The alignment of food production systems with the trends and demands of the world population plays an important global role. This study aims to discuss the convergence of trends related to the Brazilian beef cattle supply chain from a food security perspective. Therefore, it includes important reports on the future of this supply chain and its input production, taking on a qualitative approach to consider trends in animal health, genetics, nutrition, forage, and farm machinery in terms of the development of Brazilian agriculture and the future of food and agribusiness. From a managerial point of view, it was possible to provide information capable of leading to a sustainable understanding. Thus, a content analysis of the documents was carried out, coding them through the Sustainable Development Goals and categorizing them by taking into account the 2030 Agenda’s five Ps (people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships). Along this line, the discussion highlights the themes of poverty and climate change, emphasizing them with regard to the categorization social aspects – the P of people). Future trends will require a workforce prepared to deal with the additional limitations that can arise with the use of new technologies as productivity increases.

scholarly journals Plant Disease Diagnostic Capabilities in Venezuela: Implications for Food Security

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgloris Marys ◽  
Ligia Carolina Rosales
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Plant Disease ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Humanitarian Crisis ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Protection Strategies ◽  
Diagnostic Capabilities

Venezuela is currently experiencing the most severe humanitarian crisis in the Americas of this century. Little food is being produced locally, despite the population's right to food. Plant disease outbreaks are causing substantial declines in major staple food and cash crops, and this impacts on rural livelihoods, and poses a significant and growing threat to the already complex food insecurity crisis in the country. Nonetheless, phytosanitary services and hence the control of plant pests and diseases have been substantially weakened over the recent years as a consequence of the collapse of the economy and the substantial deterioration of government services. Therefore, most of the pathogens associated with symptoms-causing diseases remain unidentified or uncharacterized, and no surveillance or crop protection strategies have been implemented. In this review, we address the country's issues and challenges in diagnosing, monitoring and managing plant diseases to restore national food security.

Applied crop physiology: understanding the fundamentals of grain crop management

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Planting Date ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
The Future

Abstract This book contains 5 chapters that presents a simple, straightforward discussion of the principles and processes involved in the production of grain yield by agronomic crops, and how these processes underlie and influence management decisions. The focus is on grain crops, principally maize and soybean, although the general principles apply equally well to cereals, grain legumes and oil crops. Management decisions define all cropping systems - what (crop species, variety), where (climate), when (planting date), and how (row spacing and population density) are the fundamental choices. Knowledge of the fundamental processes responsible for plant growth and the accumulation of yield simplifies the decision-making process and leads to improved management decisions, higher grain yields, and cropping systems that are efficient, resilient and sustainable. The contents include basic plant growth processes (e.g. photosynthesis, respiration, evapotranspiration); growth and production of yield; crop management (seed quality, variety selection, planting date, row spacing); and crop production in the future (climate change, GMOs, precision agriculture and new crops). This books is intended for researchers in crop science, agronomy and plant science, and crop production practitioners. This book will enable readers to make better, more informed management decisions; decisions that will help maintain a well-fed world in the future.

Looking at Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Environmental Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (02) ◽  
pp. 97-101
Author(s):  
Monika Koul ◽  
Netra Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Variable Response ◽  
Irreversible Damage ◽  
Daunting Task ◽  
The Impact

The recent “Global report on Food Crises” published by Food Security Information Network (FSIN, 2017) calls for intervention in methods and technologies to improve the quality and timeliness of food security and tackle the present food crises. India has a huge challenge to feed 1.32 billion and it is a daunting task. Droughts and other meteorological phenomena including, climate change, increase in pollution levels and spread of plant diseases and pests are some of the most common problems that continue to have an impact on food production. In order to manage crop diseases and reduce crop losses, low cost broadspectrum insecticides have been synthesized. Farmers are using these both in situ and ex situ to save the crops and minimize the losses. However, all major pesticides have been found to have detrimental effects on social insects, and insects develop resistance to these after consistent and rampant use. Prolonged residence time of these in the environment also have harmful health implications and sometimes cause irreversible damage to human health. Therefore, time and again scientists are at look out for novel products and chemicals that can help in managing pests. The use and discovery of neonicotinoids proved to be a novel innovative method in diseases management of major crops. The newly discovered family of pesticides is attributed with various properties that are inherently different from other pesticides, and have the potential to kill a bouquet of crop pests including those that affect fruits, vegetables, fish and veterinary without conferring any resistance to them. However, the rampant use of neonicotinoids for crop protection has resulted in many unforeseen environmental problems. It is important to look for alternatives for the existing ones to tackle the human health problems. Scientists are also looking at decreasing the doses and treatment methods to reduce the impact on agro-ecosystems. A paradigm shift is required in crop management practices and indiscriminate use has to be stopped. Discovery of new generation neonicotinoids with interdisciplinary approach is one of the ways to tackle the present problems and meet the future challenges. Though, there are evidences that these novel formulations show developmental neurotoxicity, the dosage and frequency of applications show variable response. Research in this field is further required to substantiate the evidences of these insecticides to be safe to environment.

Manure Phosphorus Management from a Global Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-28
Author(s):  
April Leytem ◽  
James Mutegi
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Phosphate Rock ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Livestock Manure ◽  
Finite Source ◽  
The Future

While livestock manure is a significant global reserve of P, it is not always used efficiently in agricultural production. Due to the segregation of livestock and cropping systems in many countries, poor redistribution of manure P has led to regions with both surpluses and deficits. As phosphate rock must be considered a finite source, the recycling of P from manures regionally, nationally, and even globally needs to be improved for food security in the future.

scholarly journals Real time portable genome sequencing for global food security

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Boykin ◽  
Ammar Ghalab ◽  
Bruno Rossitto De Marchi ◽  
Anders Savill ◽  
James M. Wainaina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Crop Losses ◽  
Early Action ◽  
Sub Saharan

Crop losses due to viral diseases and pests are major constraints on food security and income for millions of households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Such losses can be reduced if plant diseases and pests are correctly diagnosed and identified early. Currently, accurate diagnosis for definitive identification of plant viruses and their vectors in SSA mostly relies on standard PCR and next generation sequencing technologies (NGS). However, it can take up to 6 months before results generated using these approaches are available. The long time taken to detect or identify viruses impedes quick, within-season decision-making necessary for early action, crop protection advice and disease control measures by farmers. This ultimately compounds the magnitude of crop losses and food shortages suffered by farmers. The MinION portable pocket DNA sequencer was used, to our knowledge globally for the first time, to sequence whole plant virus genomes. We used this technology to identify the begomoviruses causing the devastating cassava mosaic virus, which is ravaging smallholder farmers’ crops in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Plant Growth-promoting Microorganisms Isolated from Plants as Potential Antimicrobial Producers: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bazilah Marzaini ◽  
Aslizah Mohd-Aris
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting ◽  
Growth Promoting ◽  
New Compounds

The agricultural industry worldwide faces challenges in the struggle against plant diseases. In efforts to increase agricultural intensities, the dependency on agrochemicals for crop protection has become significantly high. Moreover, the increasing use of agrochemical-based products has resulted in multidrug-resistant pathogens and environmental pollution. This paper reviews the biocontrol capacity of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) originating from plants towards plant pathogens. The current trend in discovering new compounds has shown antimicrobial activity gaining immense interest due to its vast potential. On a related note, PGPMs are an aspect of that research interest that can be further explored as antimicrobial producers. In this work, we also covered the types of biocontrol mechanisms pertaining to PGPMs as well as their roles in biocontrol activity. A biocontrol approach exploits disease-suppressive microorganisms to improve plant health by controlling related pathogens. The understanding of these microorganisms and mechanisms of pathogen antagonismare primary factors in ensuring improvement for future applications. Inevitably, there is indeed room for rigorous expansion with respect to PGPMs in the future of agriculture.

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