Developments and food safety considerations concerning genetically engineered microbial crop protection agents and biostimulants

Genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) can be used in agriculture as crop protection agents against plant pests and diseases or as biostimulants intended to enhance plant nutrition. If GMMs are to be utilized in agriculture, they should conform with safety and regulatory requirements. Both academic and non-academic literature were evaluated for developments and commercial status of experimental GMMs intended as crop protection agents and biostimulants. The review also considers regulatory data requirements for GMMs that are relevant for food safety, as recommended by international organizations and authorities in the EU and USA. Experimental GMMs reported in literature and patents are mainly intended for biocontrol of insect pests and phytopathogenic fungi using specialized strains of bacteria (<i>e.g., Bacillus</i> spp.), fungi (<i>e.g.</i>, <i>Trichoderma</i> spp.), and baculoviruses. GMMs with biostimulant or biofertilizer activity include microbes with plant nutrition-enhancing and enhanced nitrogen fixation traits. Food safety data requirements for GMMs, as mandated by EU and US regulations, are similar. By replacing high-risk chemical pesticides, GMMs could help achieve policies towards greater sustainability of agriculture.