The next wave of innovations in crop science may come not from cross-breeding plants or reprogramming their genes but by tweaking the microbes that live in, on and around them.
Yes, plants have microbiomes, too, and those billions of tiny hitchhikers can help them grow and fight off invading pathogens. Researchers are trying to understand these microbial communities and adjust them to help plants become more resistant to drought, heat and infection. As crop diseases spread due to globalization and climate change, disease-resistant plants with fortified microbiomes may become vital to ensuring a steady food supply for a growing human population.