The microbiome is defined as the community of organisms colonizing a certain habitat. The microbiome connects all organisms and plays crucial roles in soil processes such as nutrient cycling and humus formation. Several FiBL projects leverage microbiome to advance sustainable agricultural practices. One such approach involves the isolatation of benefical microorganisms, for example nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, which are then introduced to plants to enhance their growth and health. Additionally, we have shown that increasing plant diversity through techniques such as intercropping and growing different plant genotypes favors a more diverse microbial communities. Finally, we have demonstrated the efficacy of soil management practices such as crop rotation and reduced tillage in safeguarding the microbiome. In this lighthouse project, we intend to publish scholarly articles in peer-reviewerd journals based on the insights gleaned from these projects.
