Faced with climate change, food security challenges, and soil degradation, modern agriculture is turning to sustainable solutions that enhance productivity while protecting the environment. Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs), found in roots and soils, offer a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers. Supported by the EU’s “Farm to Fork” initiative, these biotechnologies aim to boost crop yields and reduce environmental impact.
The Tribiome project, led by ITENE, has identified highly effective microorganisms to improve wheat growth and cut chemical inputs. By integrating circular economy principles, it transforms crop residues into resources, opening the way for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
The swift demand to find new microorganisms for agriculture
One of the top priorities of ITENE (the coordinator of the project Tribiome) is discovering, researching and developing novel biotechnological solutions for agriculture to make them accessible for farmers. The use of Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs), found in plant roots and soils, has emerged as a sustainable agricultural practice1 to boost plant health and productivity in high-value crops, while minimising environmental impact along their life cycle.2 This is particularly relevant for intensive farming, which requires climate change adaptive solutions to tackle the challenge of population growth and food security.3
These activities are strongly encouraged by the EU “Farm to Fork” initiative,4 aiming to reduce the use of synthetic fertilisers to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the risk of soil degradation and water pollution and eutrophication.5 PGPMs are a powerful weapon for long-term plant and soil health.6 A long-term perspective is needed to address the progressive replacement of hazardous chemicals, considering the contrasting modes of action of PGPMs. Microorganisms work gradually, they are susceptible to key environmental factors and their production implies higher initial costs. Thus, a proper farmers training is required for their implementation and spread. TRIBIOME project, coordinated by ITENE, presents an innovative solution to all these challenges.
As part of this outreach project, over 400 PGPMs have been isolated from wheat roots and surrounding soils from Italy, Spain and South Africa, selecting the top 10 strains for promoting wheat growth through its microbiome modulation (Figure 1).
Harnessing the potential of microbes to enhance plant growth in innovative ways
Tribiome products are undergoing a serial evaluation process. Departing from in vitro laboratory tests to assess bioactivity, a rigorous validation is performed by controlled pot trials in greenhouses and, ultimately, field trials across different soil and climatic conditions and under agricultural management practices. Selected PGPMs have demonstrated to enhance plant uptake of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus and to boost plant resistance to stress. Tests are designed to confirm that microorganism-based products can reduce chemical fertilisers use by 25% without compromising plant productivity.
The importance of choosing circular economy processes
Tribiome not only drives the transition of farming towards more sustainable and resilient practices but also lays the foundation for a circular agricultural economy. This model allows the valorisation of wheat residues, which are enzymatically processed and subsequently used as substrate for PGPMs cultivation at pilot scale.7 This approach reduces agricultural waste, transforming them into valuable resources, which ultimately opens another economic opportunity for farmers.
Tribiome perspective and long-term outcomes for agricultural transition
By reusing waste to produce newly isolated PGPMs and validating their effectiveness in real fields, this project paves the way towards a wheat agriculture focused in supporting growing population and adapting to climate change. Tribiome’s progress promises a future where technology and sustainability are combined to improve not only wheat cultivation, but also other essential crops.
Figure 1. Isolation of microbial modulators from soil and wheat roots in TRIBIOME. (A) and (B). Wheat roots employed for isolating microorganisms. (C). Soil from wheat fields used for isolating microorganisms. (D). Pool of microorganisms obtained after 24 h of incubation. (E) and (F). Different isolated microorganisms observed.
Want to know more?
Contact catherine.malingreau@wagralim.be or Follow the project’s LinkedIn page