Using fungi as crop protection and as nitrogen fixers
René Braakman • 15 November 2024
Farmers of the future will increasingly collaborate with fungi and other microorganisms in the soil. These interactions offer many benefits for both crop yields and soil health.
Fungi for pest control and carbon capture
An important group of fungi farmers can work with are mycorrhizal fungi. These live in symbiosis with plant roots and offer diverse benefits:
- Improve water and nutrient uptake by plants
- Increase crop resilience to drought, disease, and pest pressure
- Enhance soil structure and water retention
- Break down pollutants in the soil
By encouraging mycorrhizal activity, farmers may reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
Stimulating a healthy soil microbiome—including fungi—has multiple advantages:
- Improves plant growth and vitality
- Can increase yield quantity
- Positively influences consumer health
Farmers can influence the soil microbiome through farm management decisions. For instance:
- Using solid manure instead of slurry promotes better plant growth
- Fertilization methods affect the microbiome
These developments reflect a broader shift toward more nature-inclusive and regenerative farming—where natural soil processes take center stage.
Source:
Re-generation
René Braakman has launched the independent consultancy Circles of Abundance. Drawing from his many years of experience in the Agro and Food sector, he observes that the challenges in today’s Agro and Food chains call for a new approach.
Circlefarming is an innovative agricultural technique presented during Dutch Design Week as a solution for sustainable and local food production.