The agricultural sector faces a crucial challenge: while the sector's current freshwater consumption already reaches 721 TP3T, by 2050 producers will have to continue increasing production by up to 601 TP3T to feed a growing world population. In this context, food security, economic growth and sustainable use of water resources become fundamental priorities.
The impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident with extreme weather conditions and droughts severely affecting crops and reducing production. Countries such as Chile, Peru and Spain face recurring droughts, limiting water use for agriculture. Spain, for example, is among the 44 countries with the highest levels of water stress, meaning that more than 40% of available water is consumed annually. Even in places such as Australia, water rights concepts have been implemented.
It is undeniable that drought, which is becoming more frequent and intense, is causing stress to crops, with losses of up to 15% in their productivity. To illustrate this, it is enough to mention that an increase of just 1 degree in the average temperature can reduce crop yields by between 4% and 10% .
In the case of horticultural crops such as tomatoes or peppers, which require daily irrigation and maximize their productive potential, any form of water stress significantly impacts the production and quality of the fruits. Likewise, other crops, such as woody crops, also suffer the direct consequences of water shortages, experiencing significant losses in their yield.
How to improve water use efficiency in agriculture?
In response to the scarcity of water resources, various strategies have been implemented to increase the efficiency of water use in crops. These strategies include the development of new irrigation systems, the use of technological tools to accurately measure the water needs of crops, as well as the genetic improvement of plants to make them more resistant to abiotic stresses such as drought.
While these tools have shown promising results, at Symborg we have set out to go further. We are looking for solutions that make optimal use of existing water resources, are sustainable for the planet and, at the same time, profitable for farmers. How do we achieve this? The answer lies in the application of microorganism-based biotechnology.
Thanks to biotechnological solutions, we encourage crop roots to more efficiently use the nutrients and moisture already present in the soil, which translates into more efficient, productive and, ultimately, more profitable crops.
The role of microorganisms in situations of water scarcity
What role does soil play in agriculture when we face water scarcity? There are beneficial microorganisms, specific strains selected for their unique characteristics, that allow us to increase the efficiency of agrosystems and help plants in situations of abiotic stress.
An example of this is the Mycorrhizal Forming Fungus (HMA) Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum, from which several of our biostimulants have been developed. This exclusive Symborg strain establishes a symbiotic relationship between the plant and the fungus, in which both benefit from each other. The fungus provides water and nutrients to the plant, while the plant supplies sugars derived from photosynthesis to the fungus, helping it in its metabolic processes.
When a plant faces water stress, its growth is affected. In this sense, mycorrhizal symbiosis not only helps crops to continue developing efficiently in terms of water and nutrient use, but also increases their resilience to adverse weather conditions.
Mycorrhizal symbiosis goes beyond a simple exchange of resources. On the one hand, Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum It stimulates the photosynthesis of the plant to receive more sugars, continue growing and provide the plant with even more water and nutrients. On the other hand, the fungus is able to modulate the concentration of auxins in the plant, hormones responsible for the growth of roots and absorbent hairs, which in turn allows for greater root growth, greater connectivity with the fungus and more efficient exploration of the soil.
Plants that get more water and nutrients
Thanks to a greater development of roots and absorbent hairs, plants have a greater capacity to explore the soil, which translates into greater absorption of water and nutrients.
Furthermore, the fungus's own absorption system, through its extramatric mycelium, also contributes to this process. Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum, in particular, is capable of producing up to 4 times more extramatric mycelium than other mycorrhizal fungi. For every meter of root, we can obtain between 7 and 250 meters of exploratory hyphae, allowing the fungus to access water and nutrients in the micropores of the soil that would otherwise be inaccessible to the plant.
Besides, Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum improves the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of the soil by producing glomalin, a compound that acts as a structural glue and helps in the formation of stable aggregates. This leads to a quality, porous and well-aerated soil, with a higher water retention capacity and a reduction in nutrient leaching.
In short, the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum, present in our biostimulants, offers an innovative and effective solution to meet the challenges of water scarcity in agriculture. In this way, we improve crop yield and resistance, while contributing to the sustainability of the agricultural sector and global food security. Are you joining the biotechnology revolution? Find out more at: https://symborg.com/cl/
