Background

Overview of Agricultural Microbial Fermentation

Agricultural Microbial Fermentation is a critical process that uses microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and yeasts to boost agricultural productivity. This ancient practice has seen significant evolution, driven by advancements in microbiology and biotechnology. The historical roots of agricultural microbial use can be traced back to traditional composting and food fermentation practices, which improved soil fertility through organic material decomposition. The 20th century brought major developments with the establishment of microbiology as a scientific field, leading to the discovery of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and the introduction of biofertilizers. The biotechnological advances in the mid to late 20th century and the 21st century included genetic engineering of new microbial strains and the optimization of fermentation processes through bioreactors, enabling more controlled and efficient production of agricultural inputs.

Microbial fermentation plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture by reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thus promoting environmental friendliness, enhancing soil health, and maintaining ecological balance. The use of fermentation-based products such as biofertilizers, biopesticides, and soil conditioners leads to improved plant growth and resilience. Microorganisms can improve nutrient uptake, suppress plant pathogens, and stimulate plant defense mechanisms, resulting in increased crop yields and better-quality produce. The economic benefits of adopting microbial fermentation in agriculture include cost reductions for farmers through lower input costs and increased yield efficiency, contributing to greater economic stability and scalability for smallholder farmers in developing regions.

The integration of microbial solutions with precision agriculture technologies such as IoT and AI is a modern advancement that allows for more targeted and efficient application. There is a growing interest in developing multifunctional microbial consortia capable of performing multiple roles simultaneously, such as nutrient cycling and pest control. As the market for bio-based agricultural inputs expands, regulatory frameworks are evolving to ensure the safety and efficacy of microbial products, creating both challenges and opportunities for innovation in the sector.

Application of Agricultural Microbial Fermentation

The significance of agricultural microbial fermentation lies in its potential to revolutionize modern farming by providing a range of benefits. It promotes sustainable agriculture by reducing chemical inputs, improving soil health, and enhancing plant resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. This approach not only supports crop productivity but also contributes to environmental conservation and biodiversity by minimizing the negative impacts associated with conventional agricultural practices. Its application covers many fields, here are some examples.

• Soil health and improvement. Microbial fermentation can produce beneficial microbial communities that can improve soil structure, increase soil fertility, and promote the circulation of nutrients. The biological agents produced by fermentation can promote the decomposition of organic matter, increase soil organic carbon content, and improve the soil microecological environment.
• Plant growth promotion. Agricultural microbial fermentation can produce plant growth promoters, such as plant hormones (such as auxin, cytokinin) and nutrients, which can enhance plant growth rate and yield. The metabolites produced by microbial fermentation can promote plant root development and improve crop resistance.
• Biological control. Fermentation can produce natural pest control agents, such as biopesticides, which can be used to replace chemical pesticides, reduce environmental pollution and harm to human health. Microbial fermentation products can effectively inhibit pathogens and pests and protect the healthy growth of crops.
• Waste treatment and resource recovery. Microbial fermentation technology can effectively treat agricultural waste (such as crop residues, livestock and poultry manure) and convert them into valuable resources, such as organic fertilizers, biofuels, etc., reduce environmental pollution, and realize resource reuse.

Fig. 1. Flowchart describing the development of the products for the improvement of drought-stress tolerance based on the microbial strain. (Olmo, et al., 2022)

Creative BioMart Microbe provides a comprehensive suite of services in Agricultural Microbial Fermentation, leveraging cutting-edge biotechnology to boost crop productivity and sustainability. Our expert team uses state-of-the-art fermentation techniques tailored to the specific needs of your agricultural operations, ensuring enhanced soil health, pest resistance, and yield improvements. Partner with us to revolutionize your farming practices and lead the way toward a greener future with sustainable agricultural solutions. Contact us today to discover how we can empower your farming success!

Service Procedure

Service Details

Agricultural Strains Optimization Service

Faced with challenges such as limited land resources, environmental protection needs, and green agricultural development, we provide a series of solutions for optimizing agricultural strains, and can provide customers with a full range of services from strain screening, identification, culture medium and fermentation condition optimization, genetic improvement to field trials. In terms of strain optimization, we focus on improving and optimizing agricultural microbial strains through precise biotechnology means, including high-throughput screening, genetic engineering and fermentation technology, like nitrogen fixation microbial optimization, phosphorus lysis optimization, carbon fixation function optimization, plant growth regulator strain screening and biofungicide strain screening.

Fermentation Production of Agricultural Microbial Agents

In the context of modern agricultural development, Creative BioMart Microbe focuses on providing high-quality agricultural microbial preparations through fermentation production to meet the needs of increasing crop yields, improving quality, and reducing the use of fertilizers. Our services cover the construction and management of microbial resource libraries, strain screening and improvement, to product fermentation and product testing. By using advanced tools and experimental methods such as gene sequencing, high-throughput screening, and biosensor technology, we ensure seamless transformation from laboratory to industrial production, and provide society with a high-quality range of agricultural microbial agents such as biological fertilizer.

Fermentation Products Formulation Optimization Service

Creative BioMart Microbe provides fermentation product formulation optimization services in light of the increasing challenges faced by global agriculture and the diversified needs of contemporary agriculture. We focus on product formulation improvement to more accurately meet market needs and improve customer satisfaction. Services include liquid suspension formulation optimization, dry formulation optimization, foliar and seed treatment solutions, and bioactive enhancer development. We use tools and experimental methods such as stability testing, particle size analysis, centrifugation and viscosity testing, plant activity testing, surface tension and adhesion testing, and field trials to ensure product stability and application effects, while taking environmental impact and sustainability into consideration.

Lab-to-filed Testing for Microbial Agents Efficacy

Our lab-to-field microbial efficacy testing services are designed to ensure consistent effectiveness of microbial agents across different crops and environmental conditions, promoting sustainable agriculture. We evaluate the mechanism of action, stability, and efficacy of microbial agents through rigorous lab testing, greenhouse and controlled environment trials, and real field trials. Through these comprehensive testing programs, Creative BioMart Microbe helps customers turn microbial innovation into market success and ensure the best performance of their products in agricultural production.

Our Advantages

• Professional technical team. With experienced microbiologists and fermentation engineers, we can provide full technical support from basic research to application development.
• Environmental protection and sustainable practice. We are committed to promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers through microbial fermentation technology, thereby protecting the ecological environment.
• Advanced laboratory facilities. Equipped with modern experimental equipment and fermentation facilities to ensure efficient and precise R&D and production capabilities.
• Market insight. Understand market trends and customer needs, be able to respond quickly to market changes, and provide products and services that meet market needs.

Case Study

Case Study 1: Revolutionizing 5-ALA production: enhancing yields with innovative screening tools.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a vital non-protein amino acid used across agriculture, animal husbandry, and medicine. Microbial cell factories offer a promising production method, yet the development of high-throughput strain screening tools is needed to boost yields. This study introduces a whole-cell biosensor, EAC^103-3H, based on mutant AC^103-3H, which specifically detects 5-ALA with a linear range of 1-12 mM and a sensitivity down to 0.094 mM. Utilizing this biosensor, promoter engineering of the C5 pathway genes in E. coli led to a 4.78-fold increase in 5-ALA production. The research delivers an effective tool for screening strains to enhance 5-ALA production in engineered bacteria.

Fig. 2. 5-ALA production by engineered E. coli during 48 h of fermentation. (Su, et al., 2024)

Case Study 2: Isolation of dihydroxy flavone: a new hope for tomato wilt disease prevention.

A dihydroxy flavone was isolated from the fungus Penicillium EU0013 using preparative LCMS, and its structure was elucidated through NMR spectroscopy. The fungus was cultured in three nutrient media, with GPYB media enhancing dihydroxy flavone production. This compound, shown for the first time to be pathogenic against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, a tomato wilt pathogen, inhibited the fungus at 80 µg/mL in MIC tests. Molecular docking with Fol tomatinase revealed five binding interactions, suggesting the potential of dihydroxy flavones as leads for new fungicides to combat tomato wilt disease.

Fig. 3. Applied concentrations (µg/mL) of compounds isolated from Penicillium EU0013 in 96 well plate. (Zulqarnain, et al., 2024)

FAQs

References:

1. Olmo R.; et al. Microbiome research as an effective driver of success stories in agrifood systems - a selection of case studies. Front Microbiol. 2022;13:834622.
2. Su H.; et al. Utilizing a high-throughput visualization screening technology to develop a genetically encoded biosensor for monitoring 5-aminolevulinic acid production in engineered Escherichia coli. Biosens Bioelectron. Published online September 25, 2024.
3. Zulqarnain.; et al. Bioactivity of a dihydroxy flavone produced by Penicillium EU0013 against the wilt pathogen of tomato. Nat Prod Res. Published online October 12, 2024.

• Agricultural Strains Optimization Service
• Fermentation Production of Agricultural Microbial Agents
• Fermentation Products Formulation Optimization Service
• Lab-to-filed Testing for Microbial Agents Efficacy