What is the Microbiome?
When we talk about the microbiome, we are referring to a collection of fungi, viruses, and bacteria that work together and enhance each other. Microbiology studies each component independently rather than as a team. The deepest microbiome is the native ecosystem of all soils.
Studies and Discoveries
With the development of studies led by Carlos Meza, the existence of a native microbiome present in all soils beneath the top layer of soil, which we could call the ‘topsoil,’ has been demonstrated..
Comparison between Layers
The topsoil contains a microbiome weighing 2 billion tonnes, while the native microbiome below (15 cm below the surface) contains 40 billion tonnes.
Microbiome of the Topsoil
The microbiome of the topsoil requires organic matter to function, which it mineralises and converts into CO2 that is released into the atmosphere.
Native Microbiome
On the other hand, the native microbiome does not require organic matter or photosynthesis; it requires carbon for the development of its ecosystem, which is present but not active.
The Diversity of the Microbiome
The importance of a microbiome lies in its diversity, for which molecular identification sequencing of each one is irrelevant. What matters is that each DNA sequence is different. The greater the diversity of DNA sequencing, the more efficient the microbiome is in its function of genetic reactivation in plants, thus directly influencing human health.
Functions and Benefits of the Native Microbiome
This native microbiome feeds the microbiome of the plant layer, allowing soil restructuring to occur microbiologically, rather than chemically or physically.
Impact on the Human and Animal Microbiome
The microbiome of humans and livestock depends on the microbiome of plants, which in turn depends on the microbiome of the soil. The human microbiome is closed, while that of the soil is open and can be influenced by prebiotics.
Feeding the Native Microbiome
Carbon is essential for multiplication and the production of its own food, biomolecules that are directly related to the structure of RNA. Metabolomics identifies active biomolecules, and with the capture of carbon from the atmosphere, the residue is oxygen that returns to the atmosphere.
Benefits of Activating the Native Soil Microbiome
Activating the native soil microbiome yields several important benefits:
- Greater carbon sequestration in the soil (can increase fourfold compared to the initial situation).
- Activation of biomolecules that translate into activated genes in the products to be consumed, resulting in healthier products.
- Soil restructuring allows for greater moisture retention and reduces the need for fertilisers.
- With healthier soil that fills spaces and is microbiologically self-correcting, there is less chance of soil diseases.
- The activation of genes in crops increases their natural productivity.
Organic Farming vs. Conventional Farming
Low productivity in organic crops is due to the lack of activation of the native microbiome. The key is to activate the ecosystem present in all soils, not to add organic matter.
Conclusion
Activating the native microbiome not only allows for soil restructuring, but also results in soils that express the maximum genetic potential of a crop, leading to profitable sustainability and healthier products.