Índice de Progreso Genuino por escala

More information and research is needed on the interactions among plants and rhizophere’s microorganisms. The rhizosphere is a highly dynamic system with a vast number of microorganisms interacting simultaneously. Concerning nitrogen fixation understanding of the ecological factors that

control the fate and performance of nitrogen fixation systems in crop fields is essential for promotion and successful adoption of these technologies.

 Competitive ability over other strains. Local or regional strains should preferably be selected and used for the target crops. The microorganism should be antagonistic to indigenous soil microbiota, to have an effective establishment. In the case of mycofungicides the needed biological properties of the isolates to be considered when selecting strains for potential biological control agents are: laboratory virulence, field performance, genetic stability, productivity, stability of conidia in storage, stability in formulation, field persistence and tolerance to environmental factors (e.g., UV, temperature, desiccation), mammalian safety, low environmental impact and capacity to persist in the environment.

 The persistence of the biofertilizer after inoculation. If inoculum potential can be built into agricultural soil, the interval between biofertilizer applications could be increased and costs lowered. Multiple inoculations can aim to stimulate nitrogen fixation, phosphorus uptake and mineral nutrition in general. The positive effects must be repeatably shown in practical application, unless commercial viability of inoculation programs will be uncertain.

 The need for field trials with multiple strain inoculations. Inoculum combinations may be of greatest value for securing the effectivity and impact of an application.

 Quality control. Quality control is necessary because it must be ensured that the product is of standard quality. For mass production of biofertilizers, critical benchmarks at all stages of inoculum development covering all possible parameters desirable for ensured production, are required to be identified. These include viability checks from the processing stage till the formulation stage, ranging from the colonization of host roots, weight of dried inoculum at harvest, propagule estimations, infectively potential of crude and formulated diluted inoculum, formulation conditions like temperature and suitable storage conditions. The production should also be monitored by microbiologists (Gentili and Jumpponen, 2006;

FNCA, 2006;

http://www.ipni.net/ipniweb/portal.nsf/0/94cfd5a0ed0843028525781c0065437e/$FILE/16%2 0China.Cheng.Issues%20related%20to%20development%20of%20biofertilizers%20in%20Ch ina.pdf).

 Collaboration between research facilities and biotechnology industry. This issue comprises of the connection between the research sector and industry to produce inocula for field trials, but also for industrial scale testing of the inoculum production for direct marketing.

 Establishing federal and international guidelines for inoculum production and trade. To protect the end user of inoculum and to promote safe choice of commercial inocula collaboration among research facilities, federal agencies, farmers and the inoculum producers are of pivotal importance. Such collaborative approaches will allow a heal start for commercial and economically viable production of biofertilizer inocula from marketing directly to primary target consumer. The economics of labour cost, agricultural inputs and gross returns of the farmer under organic farming, will lead to a profitable combination for specified areas. Maximum benefits could be achieved from the careful combination of host- microbe-organic amendment.

 Strain improvement. For commercial bioprocesses it is recommended using wild strains isolated directly from nature/”natural” habitats, with the exception of Food Biotechnology.

 What to improve: increased yield, faster growth, improved fermentation properties, better tolerance of process conditions, decreased formation of by-products, better bacteriophage resistance, new or modified activity, regulation of enzyme synthesis,

 Genetic improvement: The biotechnological methods for enhancing colonization and effectiveness may involve addition of one or more beneficial traits. Monitoring should consider the survival of the transgenic microbial inoculant population, and also positive and negative interactions with indigenous microbial populations. This process should also include the exchange of cultures between countries of similar climatic conditions and evaluating their performance for selecting better strains for a particular crop, as well as checking the activity of cultures during storage to avoid natural mutants.

Mutagenesis: This involves genome mutations, chromosome mutations, gene or point mutations, spontaneous mutations (rate 10-7 to 10-6), mutagenic agents in molecular technology.

Directed mutagenesis and protein engineering: specific changes in amino acids encoded by cloned genes, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, knowledge of 3D structure.  Developing suitable alternative formulations. Developing suitable alternative formulations (liquid inoculants, granular formulations) for all bioinoculants to carrier based inoculants. Standardizing the media, method of inoculation, etc for the new formulations. Identifying two or three common carrier materials in different countries based on availability and recommending them to the producers is also important. Unavailability of suitable carrier due to which shelf life of biofertilizers is short is a major constraint. Good quality carrier must have good moisture holding capacity, free from toxic substances, sterilizable and readily adjustable. Under extreme soil and weather conditions there must be suitable carrier material. Technologies used for the production of living hybrids materials could be a new frontier in the development of carriers for PGPMs. Silica has appeared as a promising host for microorganisms’ encapsulation: immobilization pathways are based on immobilization of population bacteria dispersed into a silica gel. Bacteria can be either entrapped into alginate microbeads coated with silica membranes or intomacrocavities created inside the silica matrix. Such material improves the mechanical properties of the alginate bead, reduces cell leakage, and enhances cell viability. The application of bionanotechnologies could also provide new avenues for the development of carrier-based microbial inocula.

 Possible knowledge gap of farmers using biofertilizers. As demonstrated above, the use of biofertilizers as a potential alternative fertilizing method has many advantages but also some disadvantages. For example, the use of biofertilizers requires good farmers’ education level and needs flexibility in updating and advising which may render sustainable agriculture complicated. Suggestions, either for improvement or as areas for special focusing, are summarised below.

1. Better links between science and practice including local and traditional knowledge. 2. Adopting indigenous territorial management: an ecosystem approach for climate change

resilience.

3. Documentation and testing of nutritional and therapeutic properties of indigenous varieties of seeds.

4. Document and organize indigenous knowledge and wisdom on weather forecast for better adaptation to climate change.

5. Priority to defend knowledge systems of small-scale food providers (farmers, livestock keepers, pastoralists, fisher folk).

6. Facilitate development of knowledge and skills of small scale food providers: seeds, livestock breeds, aquatic organisms, soils, waters, landscapes, coastal waters, commons. 7. Increase recognition of knowledge of small-scale food producers by others, e.g.,

consumers, NGO’s, and policy makers.

8. Help organisations and social movements of small scale food providers to defend and develop their knowledge and technologies in the framework of food sovereignty.

9. Develop strategies to mitigate market impacts on local knowledge and agricultural biodiversity and ecological food provision.

 Farming techniques

1. Improve on production through green houses

2. Mechanisms for technology assessments at local, national and regional levels 3. Technology assessments/observation platforms at local, national and regional level 4. Document link between researchers, extension staff and farmers

 Ecosystems: Ecosystems functions – information sharing and exchange

 Climate change adaptation

1. Think tank on how we can equip farmers to adapt to continuous changes in climate 2. How to transition to resilient agriculture (learn, develop, discuss)

 Farmers’ Services

 Radio talks and TV programs

 Demonstration of latest technology on farmer’s field

 Arranging short-term training programs on use and importance of Biofertilizers / Microbial Pesticides for extension workers, scientists, farmers etc.

 Publication of press notes, popular articles, news items, folders etc.

 Tapping people based knowledge. Processing the knowledge through co-creation

 Sharing of knowledge (formal and informal)

 Codification of knowledge

 Provide for passing on of indigenous knowledge

 Interrogations of indigenous knowledge in the context of technology advancement (internet, media, facebook, twitter)

 Dialogue as a basis for passing on knowledge (concept traditional courts)

 Create an info bank accessible to various organisations for comparison and expansion

 Language used in development of knowledge programme should be as simple as possible for all users to participate and use it

 How do we translate the knowledge to be useful to farmers

 Platform for sharing of community technology innovations

 Dissemination through network organisations

 Documenting and sharing knowledge

 Compile available indigenous knowledge and fill in gaps

 Global knowledge networks: agric-cultures, APC, GRP

 Training workshops, dialogues, meetings with elders, youth, women how they use information

 Intergenerational knowledge transfer

 Enhanced collaboration and networking

 Networking and policy action

 Information technology: community radio for agricultural extensions

 Development education

 Adapting practical knowledge to influence policy

 Social media: blogs, video clips, twitter (Report of the Thika Meeting, 10 – 12 October 2011).

 Farmers’ acceptance and utilisation of biofertilizers. To convince farmers to utilise