CGIAR Science Week: How ICRISAT is Transforming Farming with Microbes
ICRISAT Presents Pivotal Research for Regenerating the Drylands
As the world confronts the twin crises of climate change and land degradation, a silent revolution is taking root beneath our feet. A groundbreaking publication by scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched at CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, unveils a powerful new ally in the quest for sustainable agriculture: microbes.
Titled “Microbial Solutions for Advancing Nature-Positive and Regenerative Agriculture in Drylands,” the compendium based on ICRISAT’s decades of research offers next-generation research and practical innovations using beneficial microorganisms to restore soil health, boost crop yields, and drastically cut dependence on chemical inputs in dryland farming systems.
From plant growth-promoting bacteria and biofertilizers to biopesticides and microbial consortia that help sequester carbon, ICRISAT’s research lays out a clear and science-backed path toward building more resilient, productive, and eco-friendly food systems.
Speaking at Science Week, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, applauded the study as a timely breakthrough and emphasized that microbes are nature’s original architects—engineers of soil health, resilience, and regeneration.
This publication signals a decisive move away from chemical dependency toward microbial-driven regeneration—an innovation that restores soil health, safeguards the environment, and protects human well-being.
I urge all stakeholders to accelerate its adoption as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture" said Dr Pathak.
Science in Action: Restoring Soils, Empowering Farmers
ICRISAT’s work demonstrates how bacteria like Rhizobium, Streptomyces, and Pseudomonas are being harnessed across Asia and Africa to:
- Increase nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in crops like chickpea, pigeonpea, and pearl millet
- Recarbonize soils through aerobic composting
- Control devastating pests like the cotton bollworm using microbial biopesticides
- Enhance micronutrient content in staple crops through microbial biofortification
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions with microbial consortia that promote carbon sequestration
“This is not just science in the lab. It’s innovation in the hands of farmers. By working with nature instead of against it, we’re helping smallholder farmers build resilience against droughts, restore biodiversity, and grow healthier food,” said Dr Stanford Blade, DDG - Research and Innovation at ICRISAT.
A One-Health Approach for a Planet in Peril
The report also supports a “One Health” framework—acknowledging the interconnectedness of soil, plant, animal, human, and environmental health.
ICRISAT Director of Resilient Farm and Food Systems, Dr ML Jat, said through this lens, ICRISAT’s microbial innovations are not just agricultural interventions but public health and climate actions.
“Nearly 2 billion people live in dryland areas—often the first to face hunger, poor soil, and environmental decline.
“ICRISAT’s microbial solutions offer them a sustainable and scalable roadmap out of vulnerability, and we will continue to push the frontiers of science to deliver innovations that restore soils, secure livelihoods, and drive nature-positive development across the drylands” concluded Dr Jat.
To access the study please click the link below:
Microbial Solutions by ICRISAT.pdf
PDF 24 MB
