Precision microbial fermentation: the time is now

Agriculture faces more challenges today than ever before. From climate extremes to soil degradation, and with rising input costs and increasing demands for more sustainable practices, farmers are forced to rethink how they work with nature. And as the global population continues to rise, ensuring food security adds even more urgency to agriculture.

This is where precision microbial fermentation comes into play — a breakthrough approach designed not just for the future, but for the pressing needs of farming today.

Commonly associated with food and pharmaceutical production, microbial fermentation is gaining ground in agriculture as a way to deliver consistent, high-impact biological inputs.

Why traditional inputs fall short today

Using traditional inputs, or the same approaches that have been used for a long time, is no longer sufficient. Farmers are looking for tools that are smarter, more efficient, and more in tune with the intricate biological ecosystems of their crops and soils.

While fermentation has been used for decades in the production processes of a variety of industries, from food to pharmaceuticals, its role in agriculture has often been limited to multiplying beneficial microorganisms for soil or plant health. However, as our understanding of the science of microbes continues to evolve, so does our way of thinking about how to get the most out of these powerful natural allies.

What makes precision microbial fermentation different

It goes beyond simply adding live microbial strains to the soil. Instead, it focuses on controlling the fermentation process itself to produce not only live microorganisms, but also the bioactive substances they naturally generate: enzymes, secondary metabolites, and other beneficial compounds that can trigger specific plant responses, improve soil processes, and support crop performance in a more reliable way.

“We need to stop seeing microorganisms only as live inputs and start recognizing them as factories of bioactive compounds that can do much more for our crops and soils.” — Pedro Palazón, Ideagro CEO

Beyond microbial inoculants: Why it is time to go further

Traditional microbial biostimulants focus on introducing specific strains into the soil, with the goal of delivering known benefits such as nitrogen fixation or disease suppression. But these approaches, while valuable, are often limited by the variability of field conditions, environmental stresses, and the complex interactions that happen underground.

The difference lies in how we direct and fine-tune the fermentation process itself. By carefully controlling variables like temperature, pH, and nutrient sources, we guide the microbial activity to produce highly targeted organic compounds that deliver real-world benefits to crops and soils. These compounds can help plants root more deeply, access more crop nutrients, tolerate stress better, and activate natural growth pathways.

And why does this matter now more than ever?

Because farmers are demanding solutions that are:

• More predictable and consistent in the field.
• Less dependent on synthetic inputs.
• Compatible with regenerative and sustainable practices.
• Designed to deliver measurable impact, even under tough conditions.

Precision fermentation delivers on these needs by creating inputs that are both biologically powerful and agronomically practical — helping farmers grow more with less, while keeping soils healthy for the long term.

"Precision fermentation allows us to add not just life to the soil—but the right functions, at the right time, in the right way." — Agustín Murillo, ACS Iberia General Manager, speaking at 2021 Microbioma Congress, Spain

Reimagining what microbial products can do

At its core, precision microbial fermentation represents a new way of designing biological solutions. It’s not about replacing live microbial inputs but about enhancing their power by also capturing the valuable byproducts of their metabolism — organic compounds that are often overlooked but play critical roles in soil health, nutrient cycling and plant vigor.

These include:

• Secondary metabolites that act as precursors to plant hormones or help plants cope with stress.
• Enzymes that unlock soil nutrients, making them more available to crops.
• Functional organic compounds that influence soil microbiome dynamics in favor of beneficial interactions.

By focusing on the whole microbial compound — not just the live cells — we’re able to deliver more complete, more consistent products that perform reliably across different crops, soils and conditions.

A smarter path to sustainability

In a time where agriculture is under growing pressure to do more with less, precision microbial fermentation is not just an incremental improvement — it’s a smarter, more sustainable way forward. By leveraging the natural capacity of microbes to produce targeted, beneficial compounds, we can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and chemicals, promote soil regeneration, and support farmers in adopting more sustainable practices without compromising yields or profitability.

It’s a solution that answers the urgent need to farm smarter, protect our soils, and future-proof agriculture.

At Alltech Crop Science and Ideagro, we believe this approach is not just an evolution of what’s been done before — it’s a bold step toward reshaping how we think about biological inputs. It’s an approach that couldn’t be more relevant today.

By combining decades of microbial fermentation expertise with advanced biotechnological control, we are unlocking the full potential of microbial solutions to help farmers face today’s challenges head-on.

As Agustín Murillo said at the Microbioma Congress, “When you understand the 'why,' you find the 'how' — and you see the world differently.”

Precision fermentation: It’s an idea whose time has come.

(Want to better understand the science behind this technology? Don’t miss our blog post “Fermentation expertise drives soil biotechnology” to further understand how precision fermentation works and its potential in advancing soil biotechnology.)

About the author: 

Helena Estiveira is the global marketing and communications manager at Alltech Crop Science (ACS). She works closely with the ACS executive team to plan and execute the strategic marketing and communication goals of ACS.

Helena is based in Portugal, where she initially joined Alltech as European marketing manager for crop science. Prior to joining Alltech, she worked for 16 years in the advertising industry in agencies in Portugal and Brazil as an account manager and account supervisor, gaining vast experience in the pharmaceutical and bank services industries.

Helena earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising from the Institution of Visual Arts in Lisbon, Portugal. She also completed a post-graduate course in marketing and communication at Instituto Superior de Novas Profissões/Lusófona in Lisbon and executive training in CRM and finances at Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing in São Paulo, Brazil.