Editorial: Bio-based solutions for sustainable development of agriculture

Abstract

Editorial on the Research Topic Bio-based solutions for sustainable development of agricultureThe modern agricultural sector is facing major challenges related to the increase of global population and food security that threatens many regions of the world. Considering that we expect an increase by 20% of global population until 2050, the agricultural industry has to cope with the increasing demands for food. However, despite the rapid evolution of cropping techniques and farming systems that have substantially improved crop performance over the years, the ongoing climate crisis, the everexpanding anthropogenic activities and the irrational use of natural resources has put new obstacles since plants have to grow under unfavourable conditions, which severely affect the yield and quality of the marketable product.Therefore, modern science has to provide new pillars to support the farming sector and identify alternative and sustainable agronomic practices and shift from agrochemicals to bio-based solutions to confront the current and emerging challenges (Ferreira et al., 2019a;Ferreira et al., 2019b;Petropoulos, 2020;Soares, 2022). In this context, Liu et al. evaluated the use of green manuring as an alternative practice to chemical control of goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.) in paddy fields. For this purpose, the authors tested a very common species for green manuring, namely milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.), in a series of experiments including the use of aqueous extracts, decomposed liquid material containing milk vetch powder and, finally, pot experiments where milk vetch powder was added in the growing medium. The obtained results showed great potential for incorporating green manure of milk vetch in soil as a sustainable weed control practice. The biocontrol of Frontiers in Plant Science frontiersin.org 01

Non-chemical management of weeds through bioherbicides: current status, market, development, constraints and future prospects

“…Bioherbicides have been preferred over chemical herbicides as they are cost effective; are eco-friendly not causing any adverse effect to the environment, plants, animals including humans, and other microbes; are Brazilian Journal of Development, Curitiba, v.10, n.2, p. 01-31., 2024 effective in very small quantities and often die with the host; could be used as alternatives to herbicides when the weed had developed resistance; they are more selective than most chemicals, making them a better choice to control weeds that are close relatives to the crop that they infest; they are biodegradable, unlike many chemical herbicides which persist in the environment; they are the only solutions for some specific weed species or situations for which no suitable herbicides are not available. For example, parasitic plants and vine weeds which scramble over crops provide a particularly difficult target for even the most selective herbicides; and they may be preferred to chemical herbicides for aquatic weeds to avoid chemical contamination of water which may lead to death of fauna (Auld et al, 2003: Caldwell et al, 2012Aneja et al, 2017;Soares et al, 2022).…”