Partnering crops with root-associated microbes for soil health and agricultural sustainability

Increasing global demand for food presents vast challenges for maintaining soil health and sustainable production of agricultural crops. Since plant and root-associated microbial fitness are greatly impacted through communal growth, development, and nutrient acquisition, cultivation of functional assemblies of root-associated microbes may harbor solutions for achieving food security while maintaining healthy soils. Here, we propose a four-part strategy to promote soil health and agricultural productivity through partnering crops with root-associated microbes.