Friends to the rescue: using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to future-proof Australian agriculture
Article
Heuck, Meike Katharina, Birnbaum, Christina and Frew, Adam. 2023. "Friends to the rescue: using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to future-proof Australian agriculture." Microbiology Australia. 44 (1), pp. 5-8. https://doi.org/10.1071/MA23002
Article Title | Friends to the rescue: using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to future-proof Australian agriculture |
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ERA Journal ID | 40629 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Heuck, Meike Katharina, Birnbaum, Christina and Frew, Adam |
Journal Title | Microbiology Australia |
Journal Citation | 44 (1), pp. 5-8 |
Number of Pages | 4 |
Year | 2023 |
Publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
Place of Publication | Australia |
ISSN | 1324-4272 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1071/MA23002 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.publish.csiro.au/ma/MA23002 |
Abstract | With a rising global population and the challenges of climate change, there is an increasing need to find solutions to maintain crop yields in an ecologically sustainable way. Although many studies have focussed on this issue, comparatively few are conducted in the southern hemisphere. This is worrisome because the geographical and geomorphological conditions within Australia differ greatly from the northern hemisphere. To ensure food security, approaches can rely on conventional agricultural methods as well as commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inoculants. Both approaches lack the capacity to be successful in the long term or could have unknown negative effects on the naturally occurring microbial communities. We advocate for a sustainable and holistic approach that combines the effective management of functionally diverse AM fungal communities with precision farming techniques while integrating landscape elements into agricultural fields. In addition, landowners and scientists should collaborate and communicate their work with industry and government to take forward the shift to a more-sustainable agriculture. In this way, we will be better able to secure our food production while restoring our soil ecosystems. |
Keywords | arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Australia; conventional agriculture; food security; multifunctionality |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 310703. Microbial ecology |
Byline Affiliations | Western Sydney University |
School of Agriculture and Environmental Science | |
Centre for Crop Health |
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