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Soil microbiome engineering for sustainability in a changing environment
Janet K Jansson1, Ryan McClure2, Robert G Egbert2
1Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA. janet.jansson@pnnl.gov.
Nature Biotechnology
|October 31, 2023
Summary
Harnessing soil microbes through microbial ecology and synthetic biology offers solutions for environmental damage. These approaches promote plant growth and restore healthy soil ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Synthetic Biology
- Soil Science
Background:
- Anthropogenic activities are damaging Earth's soil ecosystems.
- Soil microbial communities play a crucial role in ecosystem health and plant growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss challenges and opportunities in using natural and synthetic soil microbial communities for environmental mitigation.
- To explore the development and application of microbial solutions for soil ecosystems.
- To highlight advances in soil microbiome engineering for restoring soil health.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature and technological advances.
- Focus on plant growth promotion under various scenarios.
- Exploration of gene-engineering approaches for microbiome manipulation.
Main Results:
- Advances in characterizing soil microbes and understanding their interactions.
- Development of strategies to direct microbial community assembly.
- Potential for tailored microbial products through biotechnology.
Conclusions:
- An interdisciplinary approach is essential for understanding and deploying beneficial soil microbiomes.
- Microbial ecology and synthetic biology offer promising avenues for mitigating environmental damage and restoring soil health.
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