Project description
A potent weed killer may be harming microbes and their ability to help fight climate change
Enhancing the productivity of farms involves controlling pests and weeds. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide globally, controlling broadleaf weeds and grasses. Recently, several European countries have voted to ban glyphosate-containing products given its accumulation in the environment and studies showing it is probably carcinogenic to humans. Bioremediation via microbial glyphosate degradation has been employed. Growing evidence suggests glyphosate and the surfactants with which it is commonly sold may be harming microbial communities – and their ability to modulate biogeochemical cycles and greenhouse gas formation. The ERC-funded MICROSURF project will address this and more generally reveal the impacts of surfactants on microorganisms in the environment.
Objective
Glyphosate is the most widely applied herbicide on Earth, exhibits potential toxicity, and persists in the environment, although microbial glyphosate degradation exists. Glyphosate is not used as single compound but as mixture, a formulation, consisting of surfactants as the second most abundant ingredient. These surfactants are considered inert and a critical knowledge gap exists regarding their impacts on microorganisms in the environment. In my seminal postdoctoral studies, we showed that surfactants can inhibit microbial activities and induce a shift in microbial communities and functions in marine settings. I hypothesize that similar effects occur in terrestrial and freshwater environments in response to surfactant-glyphosate application. In particular, I.) glyphosate-degrading microorganisms might be severely affected, probably contributing to glyphosate’s persistence in nature and II.) microbial key players that drive biogeochemical cycles might be impacted, and, thus, surfactant-glyphosate application might influence greenhouse gas formation and contribute to climate change. To systematically study the effects of surfactants and surfactant-glyphosate mixtures in light of these novel aspects, an innovative multiscale and interdisciplinary frontier research effort is required: starting with pure isolate and enrichment culture studies, followed by microcosm experiments, and advancing to field experiments, in the presence and absence of surfactants respectively, we will identify microbial key players and functions, quantify microbial activities related to glyphosate degradation as well as to biogeochemical cycles and greenhouse gas formation, and, furthermore, reveal common principles of surfactant effects. This pioneering research will holistically unravel the impacts of surfactants on microorganisms in the environment and has the potential to influence politics, society, technology, and science (microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, and Earth sciences).
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
70174 Stuttgart
Germany