Organic Farming, Food Quality, and Human Health: A Trisection of Sustainability and a Move from Pesticides to Eco-friendly Biofertilizers Thakur, Nitika (original) (raw)
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The organic amendments that were witnessed in the "green phase" during the 1960s boosted food production, but at the expense of environmental sustainability. These methods increased food production but ultimately disturbed the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil over years of use. The beneficial soil organisms were exploited and the power of "biological resistance" in crops was reduced, making them more prone to pests and diseases. As a result, no part of the world is left free of harmful pesticide residues today. Over time, it was realized that these residues are toxic for soil and society. Use of chemical fertilizers has not only led to sensational increases in the quality and quantity of crops, but has also resulted in the alteration of the total soil profile resulting in a reduction of beneficial microbes leading to an imbalance in ecology. This has ultimately devastated the resources of farmers, who are the building the path of our nation. Excessive use of non-renewable energy chemicals often tends to destroy the physiochemical properties of soil, reduce friendly predators, and enhance residual hazards in seeds and to human health and the environment. The use of beneficial microbial inoculants along with organic manures is considered to be an alternative requirement for crops. The technological approaches to the use of organic manures and biofertilizers in farming have proved to be effective means of upgrading soil structure, increasing water-holding capacity, enhancing soil fertility, and increasing crop yields. On the whole it can be deduced from the present studies that by integrating correct combinations of organic production technologies, production levels comparable to conventional practices can be achieved in tomato crops with improved soil-nutrient status and productivity.
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The application of biofertilizers (beneficial microbes) represents a transformative paradigm in modern agriculture. This paper delves into the multifaceted benefits of biofertilizers in the context of crop production. It examines how biofertilizers work their magic in enhancing crop growth, yield, and quality, underpinning their pivotal role in sustainable agriculture. Beyond these primary advantages, the paper explores the ripple effects of biofertilizer utilization, where it emerges as a linchpin in the global quest for food security. Biofertilizers not only reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture but also contribute to improving human health. This paper synthesizes current knowledge, revealing that biofertilizers have emerged as a potent tool in addressing the challenges of modern agriculture, from crop enhancement to environmental conservation and public health. It serves as a call to action for their wider adoption, heralding the era of biofertilizers as a cornerstone of sustainable agricultural practices.
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Modern agriculture is primarily focused on the massive production of cereals and other food-based crops in a sustainable manner in order to fulfill the food demands of an ever-increasing global population. However, intensive agricultural practices, rampant use of agrochemicals, and other environmental factors result in soil fertility degradation, environmental pollution, disruption of soil biodiversity, pest resistance, and a decline in crop yields. Thus, experts are shifting their focus to other eco-friendly and safer methods of fertilization in order to ensure agricultural sustainability. Indeed, the importance of plant growth-promoting microorganisms, also determined as “plant probiotics (PPs),” has gained widespread recognition, and their usage as biofertilizers is being actively promoted as a means of mitigating the harmful effects of agrochemicals. As bio-elicitors, PPs promote plant growth and colonize soil or plant tissues when administered in soil, seeds, or plant surface a...
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The beneficial microbes plays an important role in medical, industrial, and agricultural processes. The precious microbes belong to different groups including archaea, bacteria, and fungi which can be sort out from different habitat such as extreme environments (acidic, alkaline, drought, pressure, salinity, and temperatures) and associated with plants (epiphytic, endophytic, and rhizospheric) and human. The beneficial microbes exhibited multifunctional plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes such as N 2-fixation, solubilization of micronutrients (phosphorus, potassium and zinc), and production of siderophores, antagonistic substances, antibiotic, auxin, and gibberellins. These microbes could be applied as biofertilizers for native as well as crops growing at diverse extreme habitat. Microbes with PGP attributes of N 2-fixation, P-, and K-solubilization could be used at a place of NPK chemical fertilizers. Agriculturally, important microbes with Fe-and Zn-solubilizing attributes can be used for biofortification of micronutrients in different cereal crops. The biofertilizers are an eco-friendly technology and bioresources for sustainable agriculture and human health. In general, the concentrations of micronutrient in different crops are not adequate for human nutrition in diets. Hence, consumption of such cereal-based diet may result in micronutrient malnutrition and related severe health complications. The biofortification approach is getting much attention to increase the availability of micronutrients, especially Fe and Zn in the major food crops. The beneficial microbes can be used as probiotic as functional foods for human health. Probiotics microbes such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Methanobrevibacter, Methanosphaera, and Saccharomyces are increasingly being used as dietary supplements in functional food products. The microbes with beneficial properties could be utilized for sustainable agriculture and human health.
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The beneficial microbes play an important role in medical, industrial, and agricultural processes. The precious microbes belong to different groups including archaea, bacteria, and fungi which can be sort out from different habitat such as extreme environments (acidic, alkaline, drought, pressure, salinity, and temperatures) and associated with plants (epiphytic, endophytic, and rhizospheric) and human. The beneficial microbes exhibited multifunctional plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes such as N2-fixation, solubilization of micronutrients (phosphorus, potassium and zinc), and production of siderophores, antagonistic substances, antibiotic, auxin, and gibberellins. These microbes could be applied as biofertilizers for native as well as crops growing at diverse extreme habitat. Microbes with PGP attributes of N2-fixation, P-, and K-solubilization could be used at a place of NPK chemical fertilizers. Agriculturally, important microbes with Fe-and Zn-solubilizing attributes can be used for biofortification of micronutrients in different cereal crops. The biofertilizers are an eco-friendly technology and bioresources for sustainable agriculture and human health. In general, the concentrations of micronutrient in different crops are not adequate for human nutrition in diets. Hence, consumption of such cereal-based diet may result in micronutrient malnutrition and related severe health complications. The biofortification approach is getting much attention to increase the availability of micronutrients, especially Fe and Zn in the major food crops. The beneficial microbes can be used as probiotic as functional foods for human health. Probiotics microbes such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Methanobrevibacter, Methanosphaera, and Saccharomyces are increasingly being used as dietary supplements in functional food products. The microbes with beneficial properties could be utilized for sustainable agriculture and human health.
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In recent years, the global discourse on food safety and security has increasingly focused on sustainable agricultural practices (Berry et al., 2015; Ala and Ridwan, 2020). As the world's population continues to rise, with projections suggesting a global population of nearly nine billion by 2050, ensuring that everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food is a pressing challenge (Bahar et al., 2020; Oluwole et al., 2023). In this context, organic agriculture, the use of biostimulants, and innovative fertilizer and stress management practices emerge as pivotal elements in the pursuit of a more resilient and secure food system (Malik et al., 2020; Sani and Yong, 2021). Organic agriculture, which eschews synthetic chemicals in favor of natural processes and materials, has gained significant traction globally (Tal, 2018). This approach aligns with growing consumer demand for healthier food options and environmental sustainability (Jaeger et al., 2023). Organic farming emphasizes soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance, which collectively contribute to improved food safety and security (Underwood et al., 2011; Gamage et al., 2023). The benefits of organic agriculture are multifaceted. Firstly, it promotes soil health through the use of organic fertilizers, compost, and crop rotations (Liu et al., 2024). Healthy soil is rich in organic matter, which enhances its ability to retain water and nutrients, thereby increasing crop resilience to adverse weather conditions (Lal, 2020; Wolf et al., 2023). This is particularly crucial in the face of climate change, which is expected to bring more frequent and severe droughts and floods. Secondly, organic farming reduces the risk of contamination from harmful pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, ensuring that the food produced is safer for consumption (Benbrook et al., 2021; Ramakrishnan et al., 2021). Studies have shown that organic produce generally contains lower levels of pesticide residues compared to conventionally grown produce (Barański et al., 2014; Vigar et al., 2019). This not only benefits consumers but also farm workers and the surrounding environment, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. Biostimulants represent an innovative frontier in agricultural science, offering natural solutions to enhance plant growth, productivity, and resilience (Rouphael and Colla, 2020; Rakkammal et al., 2023; Tahiri et al., 2024). These substances, which include seaweed extracts, humic substances, and microbial inoculants, work by stimulating natural processes in plants, thereby improving nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and overall plant health (Kumari et al., 2022; Mackiewicz-Walec and Olszewska, 2023). The use of biostimulants in organic and conventional farming systems can significantly enhance crop performance without the negative environmental impacts associated with synthetic agrochemicals (Sani and Yong, 2021; Mandal et al., 2023). For instance, seaweed extracts have been shown to improve root
Wonders of Microbes in Agriculture for Productivity and Sustainability
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During the green revolution which we have witnessed in the 1970s, we became self-dependent for food production. The major outbreak of green revolution is deterioration of physical, chemical and biological properties of soil due to excessive use of agrochemicals to maximize crop yield. Presently, sustainability and health of soil are of great concern and that’s why people are looking for alternatives of agrochemicals. Organic amendments and microorganisms are now being harnessed for their efficient use as biofertilizers and biopesticides. Soil microorganisms interact with plant roots where they get nutrition from root exudates and degrading organic matter. Although beneficial microorganisms possess ability to deal with various environmental issues, their application in well-organized way to resolve environmental problems is yet to be realized. In this chapter, we will elaborate the importance of microbial technologies in agriculture for the larger benefit of the farming and scientifi...