Generating solutions

Many root-associated microbes play an essential role in the way plants extract nutrients from the soil, grow and resist stressors. The BENEFIT project will use genomics to identify Canadian soil microbes, examine their interaction with cereals, brassicas and legumes, develop strains that interact better with crops, and help improve crop productivity. The project team will also investigate genetic factors within the microbes that help them survive the processes used to manufacture, store and deliver bioinoculants. It will also investigate the economics, environmental impacts and social factors associated with inoculant production, application and uptake. By improving crop nutrition and stress resistance using microbes, the requirement for high fertilizer levels, whose production and usage lead to greenhouse gas emissions, will be significantly reduced.