Transitioning towards dynamic, nature-based crop defenses.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Ecology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• The Anthropocene presents significant challenges to global agriculture, including biotic and abiotic stressors, climate-driven pests, and invasive species.
• Conventional crop defenses and synthetic pesticides are becoming less effective against evolving threats.
• There is a growing need for sustainable and adaptable agricultural practices to ensure food security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for dynamic, pluralistic, and adaptable crop defense strategies.
• To highlight nature-based solutions inspired by plant defense mechanisms.
• To promote resilient agriculture that integrates ecological processes and biodiversity.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing current challenges in agri-food production.
• Identifying and discussing various inducible and indirect plant defense mechanisms (e.g., trichomes, volatiles, root exudates).
• Examining the role of beneficial organisms and agroecological processes in enhancing crop resilience.

Main Results:

• Plants offer a rich source of inspiration for developing novel, dynamic crop defenses.
• Inducible and indirect defenses, often involving beneficial organisms, are effective, low-cost, and environmentally sound.
• Harnessing on-farm biodiversity and agroecological processes can intensify food production sustainably.

Conclusions:

• Transitioning to nature-based crop defenses is crucial for safeguarding harvests against erratic pest threats.
• These innovative approaches support resilient agriculture aligned with the 'One Health' concept.
• Sustainable intensification of agri-food production is achievable by leveraging natural processes and biodiversity.