Mycorrhizal fungi

Optimizing mycorrhizal fungi and plant associations to improve nutrient uptake, plant growth, and resilience.

high-risk pilotingcatalysing researchcatalysing development

Mycorrhizal fungi are a group of network-forming soil fungi that form symbiotic resource-trading associations with plants. Most crop plants can form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, which, for example, can form highly branched structures in root cells called arbuscules, where fungus delivers various nutrients to the plant. For instance, recent research has found that crop roots release the plant hormone strigolactone (SL) to signal fungi to attach to their roots, providing phosphates in exchange for carbon. However, few crops fully benefit from this association in agriculture. Enhancing this interaction can improve crop yield while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers by improving nitrogen, phosphorus and water delivery in the soil, as well as increasing crop tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Various approaches aim to optimize mycorrhizal fungi communities in the soil, including through bio-inoculant containing fungal spores and hyphae, plant-derived signaling compound identification and modification, or crop breeding.

Mycorrhizal fungi are also a major global carbon sink, creating complex networks that transfer carbon from plant roots into the soil, where it has a longer residence time. An estimated flux of ∼13 Gt of CO2e moves through plants into carbon that is allocated to mycorrhizal mycelium every year. Supporting healthy fungal networks in agricultural soils is thus also essential for global carbon sequestration efforts.

Food System Area

agricultural inputs & primary production practices

This innovation mainly addresses environmental problems linked to synthetic fertilizer (over)use. Synthetic fertilizers require significant energy for production, emit high levels of greenhouse-gases and often rely on finite resources. Their widespread application and runoff has led to environmental issues such as eutrophication, groundwater pollution and soil degradation. By strengthening crop-fungi relationships, this innovation can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers while enhancing nutrient uptake, soil health and crop resilience.

Moreover, mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, addressing issues of carbon dioxide storage in light of mitigating climate warming.

Problem area

reducing agricultural footprintincreasing climate resilience

What impact could it have?

Human health impact

medium

Direct benefits include cleaner water sources due to reduced runoff of synthetic fertilizers, which decreases the risk of waterborne diseases. Indirect benefits arise from healthier soils and crops, leading to more nutritious food and improved overall food security. Additionally, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can mitigate climate change, indirectly benefiting human health by reducing climate-related health risks.

Environmental impact

high

Overall, the innovation supports significant positive environmental impacts. By reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilizers, greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production and use will be lowered. Enhancing mycorrhizal fungi interactions improves biodiversity by promoting healthier soil ecosystems. Water resources benefit from decreased nutrient runoff, which reduces eutrophication and groundwater pollution. Healthier soils and enhanced carbon sequestration contribute to improved land resources.

Livelihood impact

medium - high

There may be medium to large impacts on livelihoods. Farmers may experience increased income due to higher crop yields and reduced costs for synthetic fertilizers. Improved soil health and productivity can enhance food security. By making sustainable agricultural practices more accessible, the innovation can promote greater equity, particularly benefiting smallholder and resource-poor farmers.

Socio-cultural impact

low

While initially, there may be some resistance due to unfamiliarity with the practices and potential market concentration among a few large actors, over time, increased awareness and adoption could mitigate these issues. Overall, the innovation is expected to support more inclusive and sustainable agricultural practices without significant negative socio-cultural impacts.

Equity impact

low - medium

Impacts on equity are expected to be small to medium, contingent on the affordability and applicability of the final products. Given its success in that, smallholder and marginalized farmers may find this innovation more accessible, leveling the playing field and promoting greater equity in agricultural communities.

Potential for transformative impact

medium

It has the potential to be game changing depending on the extent to which mycorrhizal networks can practically be enhanced through external innovation, to what extent it may substitute synthetic fertilizers, and how scalable and accessible the product may be.

What factors influence scaling?

While the innovation can stand on its own, potential synergies could be explored with other microbial products or renewable energy resources for production and transportation.

The scope of this innovation is global.

It has been suggested that current mycorrhizal fungi products and technologies reflect a sharp separation between targeting either large-scale industrial agriculture or micro small-holder farmers. Ideally, the innovation becomes applicable and taken up by all scales of food-system actors.

This innovation may be highly disruptive to existing synthetic fertilizer value chains, from mineral mining to processors and transporters, depending on the extent to which this innovation may substitute synthetic fertilizers in agricultural systems.

University of Toronto MycoApply Suståne Symbio FarmFungi

Potential unintended consequences of the innovation in enhancing mycorrhizal fungi associations include undesirable shifts in equity and power relations if production and distribution are dominated by a few large companies, marginalizing small producers. Furthermore, evidence from lab and field trials suggests that not all plants respond equally to colonization by these fungi, and research is on-going to better understand the context-dependency of the symbiosis. Investment in research to fill this gap and gain more certainty in regard to applicability of this innovation is essential to mitigating potential unintended consequences on crop health and productivity.

Close-up view of mycorrhizal fungi network in soil showing hyphae connecting plant roots for nutrient exchange

Where is acceleration most needed?

Accelerator scores reflect the degree of action needed across eight key accelerators of change that can enable an innovation to scale. A higher score signals that greater effort and support are needed in that area to unlock uptake at scale. Click on each accelerator to see what’s been achieved and what still needs attention.

Building Trust

High

Building Trust

Due to lack of education surrounding these complex fungal mechanisms, building trust amongst actors in the food will be essential for successful teamwork and risk-sharing regarding such innovative approaches.

Transforming Mindsets

Medium

Transforming Mindsets

Socio-cultural resistance might arise from shifts in traditional farming practices, necessitating education and training to ensure acceptance and smooth transitions.

Enabling Social License

High

Enabling Social License

An applied research agenda is instrumental in developing innovation success, necessitating a strong social license in support for this branch of technologies.

Ensuring Stable Finance

High

Ensuring Stable Finance

Ensuring public and private financing for further research and developments of such products will be essential in its success.

Designing Market Incentives

Medium

Designing Market Incentives

Once ready for scaling, market incentives will be fundamental for spreading the costs and risks associated with this innovation, particularly in regards to resource-poor and smallholder farmers.

Changing Policies and Regulations

High

Changing Policies and Regulations

Microbial products are lacking adequate reflection in current regulatory and policy frameworks, necessitating change to prevent additional barriers for uptake.

Safeguarding Against Undesirable Effects

Medium

Safeguarding Against Undesirable Effects

With ground-breaking and new technologies come limitations in their long-term effect on ecosystems, crop quality, and many other factors. Safeguarding against any undesirable or unintended consequences through consistent monitoring and evaluating is essential for success.

Developing Transition Pathways

Medium

Developing Transition Pathways

Considering and developing concrete transition pathways can help to optimize and ensure innovation success, ensuring that those disadvantaged by change can also benefit from the fruits of innovation.

Reference

Bradley, J. M., Bunsick, M., Ly, G., Aquino, B., Wang, F. Z., Holbrook-Smith, D., Suginoo, S., Bradizza, D., Kato, N., As’sadiq, O., Marsh, N., Osada, H., Boyer, F.-D., McErlean, C. S. P., Tsuchiya, Y., Subramaniam, R., Bonetta, D., McCourt, P., & Lumba, S. (2024). Modulation of fungal phosphate homeostasis by the plant hormone strigolactone. Molecular Cell, 84(20), 4031-4047.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2024.09.004

Díaz-Urbano, M., Goicoechea, N., Velasco, P., & Poveda, J. (2023). Development of agricultural bio-inoculants based on mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic filamentous fungi: Co-inoculants for improving plant-physiological responses in sustainable agriculture. Biological Control, 182, 105223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105223

European Commission. (2020, 16 June). Inspirational ideas: Mycorrhiza fungi as green alternative for mineral fertilisers. https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/news/inspirational-ideas-mycorrhiza-fungi-green.html

Hawkins, H.-J., Cargill, R. I. M., Van Nuland, M. E., Hagen, S. C., Field, K. J., Sheldrake, M., Soudzilovskaia, N. A., & Kiers, E. T. (2023). Mycorrhizal mycelium as a global carbon pool. Current Biology, 33(11), R560–R573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.027

Kinhal, V. (2023, May 11). Role of Mycorrhizae in Agriculture. CID Bio-Science, Inc. https://cid-inc.com/blog/role-of-mycorrhizae-in-agriculture/

Macpherson, N. (2024, October 21). Soil’s secret language: Researchers decode plant-to-fungi communication. University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Science. https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/soil-s-secret-language-researchers-decode-plant-fungi-communication

Mycorrhizal Fungi, Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN). https://www.spun.earth/networks/mycorrhizal-fungi

Oviatt, P., & Rillig, M. C. (2020). Mycorrhizal technologies for an agriculture of the middle. Plants, People, Planet, 3(5), 454–461. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10177

Watts, A., Magkourilou, E., Howard, N., & Field, K. (2023). Can mycorrhizal fungi fix farming? Benefits and limitations of applying them to agroecosystems. The Biochemist (Lond), 45(3), 2–7. https://doi.org/10.1042/bio_2023_118