Revolutionizing Indian agriculture: the imperative of advanced biofertilizer technologies for sustainability

Abstract The continuous growth of the world’s population and the escalating demand for food raise serious concerns about the future of agriculture. According to FAO’s estimates, agricultural product demand is expected to rise by 60% by 2030. However, the increasing use of chemical fertilizers has shown adverse effects on the environment and living organisms. In this context, biofertilizers offer a promising alternative to hazardous chemicals, supporting agricultural sustainability. Biofertilizers are known for their eco-friendly, non-toxic, and cost-effective nature, contributing to soil health, structure, and biodiversity preservation. Nevertheless, they face challenges, including poor shelf-life, on-field stability, sensitivity to fluctuating environmental conditions (such as temperature, radiation, and pH), limitations in long-term use, scarcity of beneficial bacterial strains, susceptibility to desiccation, and high required doses for large coverage areas. Commercially available microbe-based biofertilizers have not always met expectations in field conditions due to various reasons. While there have been advancements in biofertilizers to improve efficiency and popularity among farmers, the need to explore next-generation biofertilizers remains essential. This review primarily focuses on advanced and next-generation biofertilizers, such as PGPB (Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria), fungal biofertilizers, nanobiofertilizers, and biofilm biofertilizers, aiming to address these challenges and propel sustainable agriculture forward. Graphical Abstract