Soil microorganisms reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, improving soil fertility, and enhancing nutrient cycling. These microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing fungi, and mycorrhizal fungi, support sustainable farming by mimicking and enhancing natural ecosystem processes.

By fixing atmospheric nitrogen and solubilizing non-bioavailable phosphorus, they make essential nutrients accessible to crops while reducing the environmental impact of excessive fertilizer use. Biofertilizers containing these microorganisms improve soil structure, suppress plant pathogens, and boost crop resilience, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity.

This NbS restores soil health and biodiversity while addressing critical challenges such as soil degradation, finite phosphorus reserves, and greenhouse gas emissions from chemical fertilizer production. In Southeast Asia, soil microorganisms can be game-changers for farmers facing environmental and socioeconomic pressures. The region’s high agricultural intensity has led to declining soil health, nutrient depletion, and water pollution from fertilizer runoff. Leveraging microbial biofertilizers tailored to Southeast Asia’s diverse soils and climates can help reverse these trends.

For example, integrating biofertilizers with traditional farming practices such as agroforestry can boost yields while preserving soil organic matter and mitigating erosion in upland areas. Additionally, biofertilizers are cost-effective alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, which are increasingly unaffordable for smallholder farmers due to rising global prices.