Mycorrhizal fungi research aims to boost agricultural resilience

Researchers are investigating the role of mycorrhizal fungi in enhancing agricultural resilience and soil health. These fungal networks form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, assisting in nutrient acquisition, particularly phosphorus, and improving drought stress resistance and soil stability.

In New Zealand, research at Mount Grand Station in Central Otago is examining how different grazing regimes—including sheep and beef, sheep only, and ungrazed areas—affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities. The study aims to help high country farmers utilize natural soil fertility to create more sustainable farming environments.

In Canada, scientists associated with SPUN are working to map fungal diversity by combining soil sampling, DNA sequencing, and predictive modelling. Rather than tracing individual threads, the goal is to create a global ecological atlas. This mapping could allow Canadian farmers to monitor and protect the underground infrastructure that supports wheat, canola, and pulse crops.