Smart microbial pesticide development using rhizosphere microbiome genomics

Overview

This solution leverages rhizosphere and soil microbiome research to develop next-generation microbial pesticides for sustainable agriculture. By applying microbial metagenomics alongside forward and reverse genetic tools, the platform identifies specific genomic regions responsible for potent pesticide activity in soil microorganisms. The resulting microbial pesticides are designed to be scalable while contributing to soil health, resilience, and long-term sustainability. Targeted applications include climate-resilient nutritious crops, where improved soil and plant health translate directly into enhanced productivity and reduced dependence on chemical inputs.

Technical specifications

Core capabilities:

• Metagenomics-driven selection of microorganisms from rhizosphere, rhizoplane, root endosphere, and bulk soil microbiomes across diverse agro-ecological conditions
• Whole-genome sequencing of key soil microorganism species with diversity profiling at species and sub-species levels using large-subunit (LSU) and small-subunit (SSU) rRNA reads
• Functional genome characterization through cross-biome metagenomic analyses powered by big-data and AI frameworks
• Forward and reverse genetic tools to pinpoint genomic regions linked to active microbial pesticide function
• Consortium testing of identified key microbiomes for synergistic effects on productivity, soil health, and plant health
• Translation pathway to commercial products through collaboration with established agricultural industry partners

Technology readiness level

The research team has already evaluated a range of soil microbiota for active microbial pesticide activities and has begun unraveling soil and plant microbiome profiles, including their linkage to soil health. Current work focuses on genome profiling of representative species and functional characterization of soil microbial communities. Future validation steps include unlocking microbiomes under different agro-ecological conditions, identifying novel microbial pesticide functions, testing efficacy of microbiome consortia in climate-resilient nutrient crops, and partnering with industry to translate findings into commercial solutions. The technology is at the research-to-validation stage, moving toward pilot-scale efficacy testing and commercial translation.