Plant domestication has not only reduced genetic diversity of plants, but also the diversity of beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere. Practices like soil tilling, crop monocultures and the (over)use of fertilizers and pesticides have homogenized the soil and plant-associated microbial communities. This reduction in beneficial plant-microbe interactions led plants to be more dependent on fertilizer and pesticide use.

Proper rewilding incorporates not only looking for beneficial wild microbes, but also for ancient genetics that the plant needs to establish a proper collaboration with the microbes.

MiCRop consortium members Dario Ramirez, Corné Pieterse and Jos Raaijmakers have written a review about it. You can read it here!