A research consortium led by Professor Marnix Medema of Wageningen University & Research is looking for an alternative to chemical pesticides in the agriculture sector. With €5.5 million over five years from NWO Kennis- en Innovatieconvenant-programme, they are hoping that a solution may come from bacteria that occur naturally on plants and produce antimicrobial peptides – small proteins which can kill pathogens without detriment to human health or biodiversity.
‘Chemical pesticides are a major problem that needs to be solved fast,’ says Medema. ‘These products are bad for biodiversity, but could also have negative effects on plant microbiomes (beneficial bacteria) and human health. We want to help solve this problem.’
The researchers hope to discover readily biodegradable peptides that will target bacteria and fungi, leaving the rest of the microbiome of a plant alone. To do this, they will use new technology to identify peptides on a large scale and test their biological activities.
The Entire Innovation and Supply Chain
A unique feature of this consortium is that they will be studying the entire innovation and supply chain: from product development to consumption. Universities of Leiden and Zürich will look into metabolomics (the analysis of metabolites, which are the products of metabolism) and investigate if the peptides only work against the pathogens, and not the beneficial bacteria. UMC Groningen is involved in the field of human health research, to study the effects on the gut microbiome. WUR’s Social Sciences department will focus on the social acceptance of the new technology – if consumers will be willing to consume vegetables treated with antimicrobial peptides, and what will be required to persuade the various parties.
Benefits of Bacterial Pesticides
The benefits of using bacteria as a replacement for chemical pesticides are clear – it is a more sustainable way of controlling pests in crops, without risking human health or biodiversity. This new research could lead to breakthroughs in agricultural production, allowing farmers to reduce their use of chemical pesticides and protect their crops from harmful pests in a safe, natural way. Besides that the potential for bacterial pesticides to improve public health is immense. Chemical pesticides can have long-term consequences for humans.
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