Question

giving relevant agricultural examples, what are the three main ways that microorganisms affect our food supply?

Answer 1

1. Agriculture depends heavily on the ability of certain microbes (mainly bacteria) to convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2 gas) to ammonia (NH3). Some live freely in the soil, while others live in association with plant roots the classic example is Rhizobiumbacteria in the roots of legumes. The process of conversion is known as nitrogen fixation. Biological nitrogen fixation contributes about 60% of the nitrogen fixed on Earth. Biological nitrogen fixation is likely to have ever increasing importance in food production. Thus if the nitrigen fixing microbes are not available in the soil it leads to reduced yield quantity and also quality. to maintain the food supply constantly and to increase the yield, these microbes play a very important role in agriculture and food supply.
2. Soil microbes control pests and diseases: The best known example of the use of soil microbes in pest control is the commercial production of the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control caterpillar pests of crops. Some strains of Bt are used to control beetles and flies as well. Several strains of the fungal genus Trichoderma have been developed as biocontrol agents against fungal diseases of plants, mainly root diseases. Various other genera of fungi are used for the control of insect pests. And also Soil organisms promote plant growth. Some soil microbes produce a variety of substances that promote plant growth, including auxins, gibberellins and antibiotics. So by controlling the disease and protecting the plants against the diseases, crop yield can be increased thus affect the food supply.
3. Microorganisms are essential for the production of foods such as cheese, yogurt, bread, beer, wine and other fermented foods. Fermentation is one of the methods to preserve food and alter its quality. Yeast, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is used to leaven bread, brew beer and make wine. These include improved growth as well as protection from insects, drought and other climate-related extremities. The solutions also offer environmentally sustainable approaches to improved crops and productivity while ensuring the resilience of agricultural systems. Many microbes make the plants to be drought resistant and insect resistant and help in improving the yield.thus maintaining the food supply.