The economics of microbiodiversity

Han, Kwi Young; Kröger, Lennard; Buchholz, Florian; Dewan, Ian; Quaas, Martin F.; Schulenburg, Hinrich; Reusch, Thorsten B.H.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107664

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 113 publications

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“…Moving from humans to societies, human activities significantly impact microbial communities and their pivotal role in delivering ecosystem services of significant importance, spanning from wastewater treatment to bioremediation, and the production of biofuels and pharmaceuticals. Anthropogenic pressure can disrupt what has been called microbial biodiversity or “microbiodiversity” ( Han et al, 2023 ). All this can result in economic losses arising due to external effects stemming from the horizontal and vertical transfer of microbiodiversity between hosts and natural environments.…”

Section: The (Economic) Interactions Between Humans and Microbes−at T...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic microbiology: exploring microbes as agents in economic systems

Bragazzi,

Woldegerima,

Siri

2024

Front. Microbiol.

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Microbial communities exhibit striking parallels with economic markets, resembling intricate ecosystems where microorganisms engage in resource exchange akin to human market transactions. This dynamic network of resource swapping mirrors economic trade in human markets, with microbes specializing in metabolic functions much like businesses specializing in goods and services. Cooperation and competition are central dynamics in microbial communities, with alliances forming for mutual benefit and species vying for dominance, similar to businesses seeking market share. The human microbiome, comprising trillions of microorganisms within and on our bodies, is not only a marker of socioeconomic status but also a critical factor contributing to persistent health inequalities. Social and economic factors shape the composition of the gut microbiota, impacting healthcare access and quality of life. Moreover, these microbes exert indirect influence over human decisions by affecting neurotransmitter production, influencing mood, behavior, and choices related to diet and emotions. Human activities significantly impact microbial communities, from dietary choices and antibiotic use to environmental changes, disrupting these ecosystems. Beyond their natural roles, humans harness microbial communities for various applications, manipulating their interactions and resource exchanges to achieve specific goals in fields like medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. In conclusion, the concept of microbial communities as biological markets offers valuable insights into their intricate functioning and adaptability. It underscores the profound interplay between microbial ecosystems and human health and behavior, with far-reaching implications for multiple disciplines. To paraphrase Alfred Marshall, “the Mecca of the economist lies in economic microbiology.”

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Section: The (Economic) Interactions Between Humans and Microbes−at T...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic microbiology: exploring microbes as agents in economic systems

Bragazzi,

Woldegerima,

Siri

2024

Front. Microbiol.

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“…To reach these goals, the economic valuation of the ecosystem services provided by microbiota in vineyards and wines cannot cover the whole set of values from the entire microbiota at once for a very simple reason: without microbiota, we would not have wine; hence, we might obtain the wrong result that the value of microbiota equals the total value added by the wine industry, neglecting the rest of the contributions and, of course, missing the point [18]. Instead, we must necessarily focus on the value added by certain specific microorganisms, i.e., the marginal added value to vineyards and wine due to their presence or the marginal lost value due to their disappearance.…”

Section: Economic Valuation Of Microbiota Ecosystem Services In Viney...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Efforts are being made in different wine regions in the form of pilot projects to integrate ecosystem services, biodiversity, and multifunctionality as relevant elements in vineyard management decision making [12][13][14][15][16][17]. Nevertheless, despite being a provider of relevant ecosystem services, the role of microbiota is commonly ignored in most approaches [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiota Ecosystem Services in Vineyards and Wine: A Review

García-Izquierdo,

Colino-Rabanal,

Tamame

et al. 2024

Agronomy

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The domestication of vines started in Asia 11,000 years ago, although it was not until the 19th century that oenology was established as a scientific discipline thanks to the research of Louis Pasteur on the role of microorganisms in wine fermentation. At the present time, the progression in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies is helping to facilitate the identification of microbial dynamics during winemaking. These advancements have aided winemakers in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the role of microbiota in the fermentation process, which, in turn, is ultimately responsible for the delivery of provisioning (wine features and its production), regulating (such as carbon storage by vineyards, regulation of soil quality, and biocontrol of pests and diseases) or cultural (such as aesthetic values of vineyard landscapes, scholarly enjoyment of wine, and a sense of belonging in wine-growing regions) ecosystem services. To our knowledge, this is the first review of the state of knowledge on the role of microbiota in the delivery of ecosystem services in the wine sector, as well as the possibility of valuing them in monetary terms by operating logic chains, such as those suggested by the SEEA-EA framework. This paper concludes with a review of management practices that may enhance the value of microbiota ecosystem services and the role of smart farming in this task.

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