The use of microorganisms has enormous potential in agriculture. Its use is already a reality today as a tool to improve soil health. And yet, almost everything remains to be discovered.
On the closing day of the International Specialization Course in the use of microorganisms applied to agriculture of Microbiome Academy, the CEO of IDEAGRO, Pedro Palazón, summed up the situation in which the sector finds itself: “It is going to grow a lot, at great speed, due to its potential to offer us new solutions. Today it is a reality and within five years the sector will be very consolidated”.
Pedro Palazón offered attendees a complete SWOT analysis (weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities) on microorganisms and as a balance of the course. And then a CAME (correct, confront, maintain and exploit) analysis to establish the way forward.
One weakness: lack of knowledge
Among the weaknesses, he highlighted the lack of knowledge: "We are learning every day, but every time we learn it seems that we know little, and sometimes we discover things that we were doing wrong." In summary, "everything remains to be discovered" since only 2% of the microorganisms in the soil have been identified.
Another drawback is that, once the microorganism is inoculated, the results are achieved in the medium and long term. "This means that we need time and, therefore, there is no shock effect on the crop, we must be aware. If a shock effect is needed, perhaps the microorganism is not the solution”, he explained.
A threat: inadequate soil management
Soil fatigue and loss of functionality is a major threat, frequently due to improper management. "If the floor is bad, it is very difficult to change it because it has a memory effect and a cushioning effect: we suffer the consequences of what we do wrong for many years and, however, the results of what is done well take time to be seen because we muffles”.
A strength: we improve soil health
Many of the strengths of microorganisms are already known: they improve soil health with beneficial effects when working as biostimulants, fertilizers, phytosanitary products or the effect priming (when the plant is able to protect itself).
"The microorganisms allow us a better nutrition of the plant and the product that we obtain has better properties: better flavor and better conservation", summarizes Pedro Palazón.
An opportunity: new soil quality index
IDEAGRO works in a new soil quality index based on enzyme activity analysis. The physical-chemical analyzes alone, in an isolated way, “are lame”. "The information they give us is limited, we have to broaden our horizons because we are conditioned by microbial biodiversity."
As Pedro Palazón explains, after inoculating the microorganism, with the enzymatic activity it is possible to know the response of the microbial community to the inclusion of this new organism that has been introduced.
The complete SWOT analysis provided by Pedro Palazón, offered in the International Specialization Course in the use of microorganisms applied to agriculture of the Microbioma Academy, provides a global vision of the situation and the challenges offered by a sector with enormous potential in which Indeed, everything is to be discovered.