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PLENARY SPEAKER 2 ABSTRACT

Microbes In Agri-Food Production

AZIZ AHMAD

Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala
1
Nerus Terengganu, Malaysia.
E-mail: aaziz@umt.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Climate change, anthropogenic effects from urbanization, industrialization, and gases released
from the utilization of chemically synthetic fertilizers and pesticides cause adverse effects on

the agroecosystem and agri-food production. The ecofriendly source of Agro input by utilizing
the microbes shall be the main strategy in agri-food production. For a decade, microbes have

been synergistically and symbiotically associated with plants. This mutual interaction benefits

plants in many forms including sources of mineral nutrients (fertilizers) and protection against
phytopathogens (biopesticides). The microbes are known for natural nitrogen fixation, mineral

solubilization, degradation of organics and polluted materials as well as improving soil health.
During the decomposition process, microbes convert the organic materials to minerals,

proteins, amino acids, and sugars. Additionally, few biologically active metabolites are also

released into the environment and soil. These metabolites naturally act as biopesticides or
biocides (phytoalexin or pathotoxins) that control the pests. The activities of the biocides are

highly targeted organisms, non-persistence in the environment, and nontoxic to farmers.
Moreover, the microbes also enable to mitigate the abiotic stress such as drought, salinity, and,

heavy metal pollution faced by the crops. In this regard, effective microbes with multi-tasking

would enhance agri-food production and benefit the farmers. The dependent on the
synthetically input for agri-food production must be replaced with eco-friendly resources.

Keywords: biocides, climate change, diseases, fertilizers, phytopathogens, pests