Food insecurity is a rising threat – could these innovations help?

As worldwide food demand grows and conventional agriculture faces challenges, Australian farmers are increasingly turning towards novel ways to grow and protect their produce.

Biological fertilisers and crop protectors have long been making an impact. But with dozens of innovations in the pipeline – and a fragmented R&D landscape – many agricultural decision makers are left unclear on where to best channel their budget.

With this in mind, we spoke with Dr Nirodha Weeraratne of Charles Sturt University, who discussed the current state of play, along with the “why, what and how” of biologicals in agriculture.

Why the need to change the way we farm?

Despite the confusion around farming R&D, Dr Weeraratne says a shift away from traditional agriculture is essential.

She says uncertainty around the flow of petrochemical-based inputs from the Middle East will continue to threaten the supply of traditional fertilisers and crop protectors, escalating the cost of farming.

“We know we can't keep going with conventional ways of farming,” she said.

“The ratio of arable land to global food demand is becoming increasingly slim and current farming practices will struggle to keep pace. This will bump up food production costs and threaten food security, worldwide.

“So, there is definitely a case to remove our reliance on petrochemicals and explore biological alternatives.”

What types of biological products can best address this?

While dozens of new biological products are being developed every year, Dr Weeraratne says there is no single product that ticks every box.

To weigh up each one, she says it first helps to learn their use categories.

“We categorise biological products based on what they are used for in agriculture - and there are three main categories,” she said.

“In the first, we have biofertilisers, and then biostimulants - which don’t have any direct nutritional application but can improve the plant’s resilience to environmental conditions.

“Then, we have biocontrol agents, biopesticides, and biorationals, which tackle pests, diseases, and weeds, and ensure optimum crop growth and production.

“And thirdly, probiotics, which help the growth and performance of livestock; some of these can be applied to plants as well.”

Weeraratne says each of these options could play an important role in bolstering national food supply.

However, their influence on both human and environmental health must equally be factored in.

“It’s tricky, because fighting off pests, weeds and diseases can make a monumental difference to our crop supply, but at what cost to human and environmental health?

“We need to understand and answer with confidence, can we safely consume this product, and also, is it good for the environment?”

While there is no black and white solution, Weeraratne says there is evidence for an integrated approach.

“It’s unlikely to be a single product that saves us. Australian farms will need a mix of solutions to address this complex and evolving challenge,” she said.

Where do these biological products come from and why does that matter?

Alongside these categories, Dr Weeraratne says the biological origin of each product must be considered.

Broadly, there are five origin categories – each with its own safety profile.

“The first and most common is microbials, which contain either live microorganisms or a byproduct of one. Then, you have plant and seaweed extracts,” she said.

“These can improve both nutrient availability and soil health - but their results are mixed and performance can sometimes be impacted by other farming products already in the soil.”

The third group includes complex carbon-based products.

“These materials have a biological origin, but don’t contain any biological molecules – only mineralised carbon, examples are humic and fulvic acids, and biochar.”

The fourth category is purified proteins and protein hydrolytes including peptides, amino acids, and other hydrolysed protein products.

Biologicals which contain these inputs can see superior crop growth and yield. However, these inputs are vulnerable to degradation from heat and solar UV.

Lastly, the fifth category includes defined molecules extracted and purified from plants, animals, microorganisms or minerals, or obtained by synthesis. These may combine an inorganic mineral or an ion with an organic biological compound.

These products give some of the most predictable results and have a clearer mode of action. But they can be toxic and expensive to manufacture.

Where are we currently up to with biologicals in agriculture and where are we heading?

Since 1950s, Australia has introduced various biological products to its farms - most notably Rhizobium inocula for legumes, humates and seaweed extracts.

Now, there is an increasing demand for products that can help capture and sequester carbon in soil.

“There is great interest in that. People are thinking of biological ways to capture more carbon in soil and use it as a reservoir to store atmospheric carbon on farm. That frontier is still developing - there's a lot of space to grow there.”

Equally, there is a push for biological alternatives to pesticides like paraquat, atrazine, and imidacloprid – products which have been banned in other countries.

“Public concern is mounting around residual chemicals from these and their risk to human health. So, I certainly see a large appetite for any biological input which addresses this.”

How do we facilitate these innovations?

Weeraratne believes a coordinated, national framework could help guide agricultural innovations from laboratory to farm – a pathway she says is currently laden with obstacles.

“We need to find more efficient ways of validating agricultural products at the laboratory level, in research field trials, and on farm.

“Then, further down the track, we need to help with their adoption, because there is currently a lack of knowledge about the different biological inputs across the agriculture sector.

“We need to develop adoption programs and educate everyone - from agronomists to regulatory and policy decision makers – about the science.”

Further insights

Sharing more expertise on biological innovations in farming, Dr Weeraratne will present at the upcoming Biolnputs Australia Conference.

This year’s event will be held 21-22 October at the Crown Promenade Melbourne.

Learn more and register your tickets here.