Summary
This narrative review examines microbial plant biostimulants as sustainable alternatives to agrochemicals, documenting their capacity to enhance crop productivity and soil fertility whilst improving nutrient mobilisation and plant stress tolerance. However, the authors identify significant safety concerns with commonly used microbial genera—particularly Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Acinetobacter—which are closely related to opportunistic human pathogens and may pose infection risks, particularly in immunocompromised populations. The review advocates for rigorous regulatory characterisation and risk assessment protocols prior to widespread agricultural authorisation of such products.
UK applicability
UK regulatory bodies (APHA, Defra) and product authorisation schemes would benefit from the safety assessment framework presented, particularly given the UK's growing interest in biological input alternatives to synthetic fertilisers. The identified risk genera and recommended characterisation protocols are directly applicable to UK biostimulant product registration and monitoring systems.
Key measures
Characterisation of microbial biostimulant safety; identification of high-risk microbial genera; assessment of pathogenic potential relative to human health
Outcomes reported
The review characterises the safety profile and pathogenic risk status of microbial genera commonly used in plant biostimulant formulations, with particular emphasis on genera closely related to human pathogens. The authors document both the agronomic benefits of biostimulants (enhanced crop productivity, nutrient mobilisation, soil fertility) and the infection risks posed by certain microbial taxa in immunocompromised populations.
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