***By Keshika Gajbhiye ***

Did you know – we are literally changing the planet, but probably for the worse? Anthropocene is defined as the period where human activity alters the planet more than any other force. Currently, we are at this age of the Anthropocene where our actions, from excessive greenhouse gas emissions to deforestation, transform natural systems. Population growth in recent years is a contemporary challenge which has amplified the consequences of these actions. It has put pressure on essential resources including habitable land, water and specifically food. Global population is currently at 8 billion and is expected to reach nearly 10 billion by the year 2050. This means that agriculture, which is under a lot of strain already, must keep producing more, from lesser land and in a much harsher climate. When a similar challenge was presented during the time of the Green Revolution, chemical fertilizers and pesticides were a quick, seemingly effective solution. They helped increase crop yields and curb famines but their excessive use has created a new kind of crisis. The numbers for global pesticide usage have doubled since the 1990s, indicating a dependency. In 2022, around 3.7 million tonnes of pesticides were used, with application per hectare increasing by more than 90 percent since the 1990s. These chemicals cause environmental distress; they harm bees and other pollinators and cause larger problems by degrading the soil biodiversity and also making their way into food chains. Currently around 64 percent of the world’s cropland is at risk of pesticide pollution, with nearly a third facing dangerously high levels. For humans, the effects are equally alarming, an estimated 385 million cases of acute pesticide poisoning occur each year worldwide, causing about 11,000 deaths, while chronic exposure leads to respiratory diseases, neurological disorders and even cancer. Children are especially prone to these ill effects with studies reporting that up to 90% children exposed to pesticides in food carry detectable pesticide residues. Additionally, fertilizers used in farming release nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide adding to climate change which in turn will affect agriculture. Without effective and broadly adopted alternatives, this vicious cycle will only jeopardise the future of the planet as millions still go hungry. As a response to these challenges, many solutions have been put forward. On the biological front, improved crop varieties either bred through conventional methods or developed through genetic engineering have been designed to produce more yield and exhibit pest resistance. While technological interventions include precision agriculture using satellites, drones and sensors to efficiently incorporate water, fertilizers, and pesticides in the field. Different approaches such as organic farming altogether refrain from the use of synthetic chemicals and substitute them with compost, crop rotation, and natural pest control. Alongside, the application of micro-organisms such as bacteria and/or fungi is being explored to enhance plant growth and impart disease resistance. Application of fungi in the fields as inoculants (solutions containing fungi) has been of particular interest in recent times. Many important fungi are being studied for their ability to form symbiotic relationships with plants to facilitate nutrient and water uptake and protection from harmful pests. Additionally, some fungi, referred to as endophytic fungi, live inside plants and impart tolerance to drought and salinity. Many recent formulations are using these properties of fungi to create fungal inoculants which can be added to soils or seeds to support plant growth. This not only improves plant health holistically but also restores balance and is a better alternative to chemicals that simply add nutrients, kill pests but also cause major disruptions in the ecosystem. In summation, fungal inoculants can boost yields while reducing chemical dependence and improving soil health. While the above-mentioned solutions exist, each of them carries certain limitations. Genetically engineered crops are often expensive to develop, require regulatory approvals and have previously attracted skepticism and resistance from farmers and consumers. Precision agriculture, while being a solid concept, requires expensive equipment, infrastructure and technical expertise, making it inaccessible to small land holding farmers. Organic farming, while being environmentally friendly, does not match conventional farming practices in terms of yield and may not be effective to meet global food demand or farmer expectations. Despite being an effective concept and an alternative approach, current fungal inoculants have a few open ends to resolve. In comparison to chemicals which are generally implemented as one size fits all, fungal strains are susceptible to factors such as soil type, climate, and crop variety. Also, fungal inoculants take time to come to effect as they need to establish themselves in the field to show benefits. Additionally, there are logistic challenges with transport and storage as fungi are living creatures and have a shorter shelf life as compared to chemicals. These restrains discourage farmers from making a shift from the use of chemicals to fungi-based products. Without clear and guaranteed results, farmers are hesitant to adopt these products, and rightly so because of the economic pressure to deliver reliable harvests. Another challenge with these inoculants is regulation and production. Unlike standard fertilizers or pesticides, microbial inoculants may differ in terms of active organism used and the preparation (liquid, powder, pellets). This makes quality control inconsistent across markets and may result in mass production of ineffective products. The regulations associated with registration of these products are also much more complicated and time consuming as compared to chemicals, which discourages manufacturers and creates a divide between the number of chemical-based products and microbial products available in the market. Addressing these issues may require an inter-disciplinary approach. An initial starting point of understanding is to limit the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers as they produce ill effects that will only alleviate as the Anthropocene moves ahead with population growth in the coming years. A combination of technologies such as that of improved fungal inoculants with artificial intelligence (AI) to match specific fungal strains to soils, crops and climate may be a solution to these problems. Precision agriculture while still associated with the costs, when integrated with AI may have an increased effectiveness. Advances in genetic engineering may be used to create tailored fungal strains that are more resilient and stable with a longer shelf life and an enhanced production of relevant biological products. Building farmer trust is equally important in parallel to these technical advancements. Training programs that can help farmers understand how fungi differ from chemicals and how they may be slower but are an environmentally sustainable solution. Additionally, involving important stakeholders to strengthen this approach may promote their better adoption to really bring about a change. To illustrate, policy support making fungal inoculants more accessible and affordable through incentives or subsidies may promote adoption. Together these strategies may significantly reduce agriculture’s dependence on chemical inputs and allow them to address food production challenges while not feeding into the concept of Anthropocene. Meeting global food demand in the Anthropocene is not just about producing more food but is about doing so in ways that preserve ecosystems, human health and stabilize the climate. Synthetic shortcuts were a valued solution of yesterday but have created today’s problems. Fungi as an alternative promotes synergy rather than dominion. By troubleshooting previous issues through modern technology such as AI and genetic engineering, we can create better fungal inoculants for a productive and sustainable agricultural system which can nourish the people and the planet. Using the soil that’s underneath our feet to work with nature and not against it can define the future of food. (The author is PhD Scholar at Plaksha University, Mohali)