Biological Inputs in Brazilian and Worldwide Agriculture

Food security is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. The growing demand for food production has generated negative impacts on natural resources, especially soil, highlighting the need for more sustainable agricultural practices. A new agricultural revolution based on biological inputs is a promising alternative. Microorganisms stand out for their beneficial mechanisms on soil health and plant development, which application in food, fiber, and bioenergy production systems has gained global prominence. Bioinputs are economically viable and environmentally sustainable, delivering benefits such as increased productivity and environmental preservation, representing alternatives to conventional chemical products, whose costs have increased while effectiveness has decreased over time. Among the microorganisms used in agriculture, Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a significant role by promoting plant growth through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), phosphate solubilization, phytohormone production, protection against pathogens, and improved water and nutrient uptake. The increasing use of bioinputs in agricultre has been observed in several countries. Although legislation and incentive programs have encouraged their adoption, there are still challenges in terms of regulation and implementation policies, which vary across countries, from minimal quality control standards to sanitary or envionmental concerns. We present here the progress in terms of regulatory framework and adoption of biological inputs in Brazil, Argentina, India, United States, and European Union, where this practice has been well established, outlining the historical background, current legislation, and initiatives related to these emerging technologies, which may contribute to the quality and sustainability of global agriculture.