Microbial Biocontrol Techniques: Importance in Ensuring Food Security

This book delves deeply into the field of microbial biological control. It is the method in which microbes, predators, and pathogens interact in a complex action to defend crops from damaging pests and diseases. This conventional method, which is frequently eclipsed by modern substitutes, is a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture. In addition to providing a practical way to protect our crops, it also offers a way to preserve the delicate ecosystems' balance while being environmentally benign.

This book investigates the use of microbes in sustainable agriculture. It discusses current research and collaborations using helpful bacteria, emphasizing relationships between allies and foes. For disease resistance, emerging technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 and nanotechnology are considered. Market demands for biofertilizers that increase nutritional content and act as eco-friendly insecticides are discussed. Metagenomics, efficient formulations, and soil amendments are amongthe contemporary tools investigated. The volume strongly emphasizes shelf-life extension, biocontrol future trends, and storage, opening the door for creative microbial-based agricultural technologies.

This interdisciplinary book is useful for a diverse group of readers including microbiologists, biotechnologists, agronomist, policymakers, university students and those who are interested in the development of strategies for sustainable farming by utilizing microbial communities.

Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an Assistant Professor (II scale) in the Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his Postdoc research  from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani center, Rishon Leziyon, Israel, on the theme ”Postharvest management of fruits using beneficial microbes” or ”Biopesticide against the postharvest pathogens of fruits”.  Before this Dr. Kumar obtained his doctoral degree from Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India on the theme "Plant microbe interaction". In his research tenures, Dr. Kumar has published more than 250 scientific contributions in the form of research and review articles, books or book chapters with the leading International Journals or Publishers. Dr. Kumar also serving as an Associate editor in Frontier in Microbiology, BMC Microbiology and special guest editor in Microorganisms, Plants, sustainability MDPI Journals. In addition also act as  review editors in several leading international journals like Antioxidants, Scientific Reports, Agronomy, Environmental pollution, PLOS ONE, Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment, Biological Control, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 3Biotech etc.

Dr. Manoj Kumar Solanki is an Associate Professor at IES University, Bhopal, India, with a distinguished background as a former scientist at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland (March 2021 - March 2023). He earned his Master’s degree in Microbiology from Barkatullah University (2006) and a PhD in Microbiology from Rani Durgawati University, India (2013). Dr. Solanki's dedicated pursuit of scientific progress has earned him prestigious awards, including visiting scientist fellowships at the Guangxi Academy of Agriculture Sciences in China (2013-2015) and the Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization in Israel (2016-2020). Dr. Solanki’s research covers but not limited up to plant-microbe interactions, soil microbiology, plant disease management, and enzymology. His work is widely published in leading international journals. He is passionate about using agriculturally important microorganisms―such as bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and yeast―to improve soil and crop health. Dr. Solanki’s strong commitment to scientific discovery and practical solutions continues to drive his significant contributions to the field.