Muzammil Hussain (@plantmicrobiol.bsky.social)

Licensed to protect: microbial biocontrol challenges and opportunities Microbial biocontrol agents (MBCAs) offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Despite extensive research, relatively few MBCAs successfully make it to commercial products. In this review, we catalog commercially available MBCAs, examining their modes of action, their target pathogens, and their application contexts. Our analysis reveals that most products are based on strains of Bacillus, Trichoderma, and Pseudomonas. Additionally, a notable bias exists toward high-value crops and their pathogens, with a comparatively limited representation of products aiming to protect staple crops such as cereals. We propose several strategies to overcome current barriers in MBCA development and improve their market integration. http://dlvr.it/TS7csP