Leveraging biological products to build climate resilience

Agronomic Practices

Technological

Climate change

2022

Active

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Executive Summary

Global agricultural production faces challenges from climate change, drought, nutrient availability, pests and diseases. Biological products can reduce the use of agrochemicals and help improve productivity by minimizing the environmental risks of toxic waste and water pollution. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), phytopathogenic antagonists (PPA), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been studied for their application as insecticides or pathogen antagonists. However, their potential for developing bio-products has been studied little. This project proposes the integration of beneficial fungi including EPF, PPA and AMF to improve production (+5%) and the resilience of corn crops to climate change with added benefits via reduced agrochemical use (50%), the control of pests and diseases, greater tolerance to drought and soil carbon sequestration. This will be achieved using the native biodiversity of Colombia; Argentina and New Zealand are looking for the most promising alternatives for the development of biologicals that can be integrated into a technological package to be applied in maize cultivation and replicated in other crops post-validation. The project is funded by the New Zealand Government as part of its contribution to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

The technological solution

This initiative aims to create a strategy for improving production by 5% and corn crop resilience to climate change through the use and integration of beneficial fungi. Microbiological biodiversity already evaluated for biopesticide and biofertilizer qualities will be integrated to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Results

Molecular identification of beneficial fungal isolates used in the project
Baseline of insecticide activity for each native fungal isolate
Baseline of antagonistic activity for each native fungal isolate
Baseline of entomopathogenic and antagonistic activity of foreign fungal isolates
Standardized methodology for measuring soil-based carbon sequestration
Proven soil-based carbon sequestration by beneficial fungi
Drought tolerance results for beneficial fungi
Analysis of the benefits of fungal application represented by reduced fertilizer and pesticide use
Protocols of methods applied during the project and information about selected beneficial fungi
Workshops for strategies to consider for uptake by producers
Documents to form the basis of at least two scientific papers, a video for dissemination and a publication that agricultural producers can access.

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries will be corn producers in Colombia and Argentina. Further beneficiaries include professionals, students and technical assistants that will participate directly and indirectly in the development of this proposal (100 per country).

Indirect beneficiaries will be businesses that produce and commercialize biologicals, the academic sector and research sectors of the involved countries. Poultry and pork production chains will benefit from corn production being directed to animal feed, one of the greatest unmet demands in Colombia where 80% is imported.

Sustainable Development Goals

This project actively contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting more equitable, resilient, and sustainable regional development.