Biofertilizers and Bioherbicides in a Developing Bioeconomy

The rise in the global population and increasing food demand, especially in developing countries, has increased the use of agrochemicals, herbicides and pesticides over the years for the improvement of soil nutrients and control of pests and weeds. However, these agrochemicals are not eco-friendly due to their chemical toxicity in the environment, such as bioaccumulation in the food chain, eutrophication of water bodies and their negative effects on non-target organisms. Biofertilizers and bioherbicides can be harnessed as viable replacements for agrochemicals. Biofertilizers are formulations of living microorganisms that are applied to improve soil fertility and support the growth of crops. Bioherbicides are various biological agents used in weed control. They have proven effective in nutrient mobilization and uptake in crops and weed control. In this review, we discuss the negative impacts of agrochemicals on health and the ecosystem, their key mechanisms of actions, the categorizations of commercially available products and the challenges limiting their adoption.