Role of Microorganisms in

Sustainable Development
Raj Kolambekar
7516
TYBSc F
What is Sustainability?
“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.” 1987 UN Brundtland Commission

Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable and
resilient future for people and planet.

Taking all the factors in mind UN has developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals and these range
from social, economic and environmental perspectives.

A common goal of the world now is the use of cleaner production and green technologies, as well as
the preservation of natural resources and if microorganisms are used judicially, they can contribute
significantly to the sustainable development.
17 Sustainable Development Goals
These are sub grouped into 5 categories

The microbiological knowledge can be used in almost

every aspect, some directly while others indirectly.
Microbes have outlived us, dealing with all the changes for so long.

"Understanding the world of microbes is absolutely imperative either to curb dangerous effects or to
harness their power for healthier life, for sustainable energy sources, for biodiversity, for tackling
climate change, for solving hunger problems.." ASM CEO

Microbes are their on both the sides.

Rumen Organisms Methanotrophic

Organisms
Poverty, Hunger and Health
Acc to a WHO report nearly 12.6 million people are dying each year due to an unhealthy
environment.

52% of deaths in low-income countries are attributed to communicable diseases, nutrient

deficiencies and maternal causes.

Microbial infections are affecting the lives of those who do not have access to food and healthcare,
and are unable to maintain proper hygiene.

Antimicrobial resistance in microbes like E.coli, Klebsiella “Infectious diseases of poverty”

sp., MRSA, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus has been
linked to the prevalence of poverty, poor governance and
corruption.
Practices like the production of Gobar Gas or traditional microbial fermented food products like
pickles, vinegar, sake, and kumis may help the poor people in generating a source of income by
learning the proper skills.
Poverty is also the main cause of hunger. Rapid increase in population demands for more food
production which is limited because of limited resources.

Microbes are capable of improving soil fertility, crop productivity and biocontrol of plant pathogens.
Microorganisms can be used for bio-fertilisation as well as biocontrol, and will not possess any harm
to the environment, unlike the chemicals being used in agriculture.

Penicillium bilaii helps to unlock phosphate from the soil. It makes an organic acid, which dissolves the
phosphate in the soil so that the roots can use it.

Rhizobium being used as biofertilizer.

Algal and fungal protein(SCP) like Spirulina, button and oyster mushrooms are

already cultivated on large scale.

Souza, Rocheli de et al. “Plant growth-promoting bacteria as inoculants in agricultural soils.” Genetics and
molecular biology vol. 38,4 (2015): 401-19. doi:10.1590/S1415-475738420150053
But along with this another implication pops up: STORAGE

A lot of raw materials, fruits and vegetables are wasted due to poor food processing or improper
storage conditions and safety implications like botulism (caused by Clostridium botulinum) in canned
foods.

Fermented food products have a upper hand in this case and can be stored for longer term.

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional fermented foods of Manipur (Soibum and Soidon) has
shown antimicrobial activity. Especially soibum has been reported to have many health promoting
benefits.
Good health is associated with good food. Hence all the three are
connected.

Fermented bamboo shoots

 Various studies have indicated that both fresh and
marine water cyanobacteria exhibit anticancer,
antibacterial, antifungal, and pharmacological activities

Singh, T., Basu, P., Singh, T. A., Boudh, S., & Shukla, P. (2020). Cyanobacteria as source of novel antimicrobials: a boon to mankind.
Microorganisms for Sustainable Environment and Health, 219–230. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819001-2.0
Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 780 million people lack access to
a proper water source, and 2.5 million people lack improved sanitation.

Sanitation is vital to health since improper sanitation and unclean water result in the spread of
diseases like diarrhoea, cholera.

Enumeration of the microorganisms E. coli, Salmonella, Vibrio, and Shigella can immensely contribute in
controlling water-borne diseases.

Microbial biofilms, which work by adsorption and flocculation, are used in various water-treatment
systems. Various processes like activated sludge and trickling filter are cost-effective green
technologies utilized for the treatment of municipal wastewater.
Sustainable cities and Waste Management
One of the goals of Sustainable future is building resilient cities.

Waste management is an area where microbes have a direct impact.

An efficient, green and sustainable way of solid waste management is its bioconversion to useful
products like biofuel, biogas and animal feedstock, as well as its agricultural uses.

Composting of the solid waste is an economically viable process that uses microorganisms like
Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Microbispora, Actinobifida, and Thermoactinomycetes for converting its organic
constituents into useful end products. Compost can be used as manure for crops, thereby improving
their productivity and contributing to green development.
Life under Water and on Land
Bioremediation is a process in which microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or yeast are used for
cleaning up the contaminated soil and water.

The bioremediation process is well defined as the elimination, or transformation of highly polluted or
contaminated compounds by the application of biological agent.

The most effective microbes involved in the treatment of wastewaters are Lactobacillus plantarum, L.
casei, and Streotococcus lacti (lactic acid bacteria)and Rhodobacter spaeroide, Rhodopseudomonas
palustrus, etc. (Photosynthetic bacteria).
Deterioration in the soil health directly affects all life forms, Microbes, being the key players in
regulating the nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur levels, as well as the decomposition of decaying
organic matter, are essential for maintaining the health of the soil.

Microorganisms such as Burkholderia, Arthrobacter, Chromobacterium, Micrococcus, Candida,

Pseudomonas, and Bacillus can degrade crude oil and hydrocarbons.

Microbes like Shewanella, Bacillus subtilis and Brevundimonas have been found to remove magnesium,
calcium and iron.
Other Goals
● Reducing inequality by education, awareness about soil microflora to female farmers, gap
between industry and local producers.
● More research in the diverse world of microbes, uncovering the unknown
● Ongoing research about Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter sulfurreducens to produce
utilizable electricity.
● Combating bioterrorism by the use microbial forensics.
(Peace, justice and stronger institutions)
References
● Kuhad, R. C. (2012). Microbes and their Role in Sustainable Development. Indian Journal of Microbiology, 52(2), 309–
313. doi:10.1007/s12088-012-0267-x
● Akinsemolu, A. A. (2018). The role of microorganisms in achieving the sustainable development goals. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 182, 139–155. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.081
● https://asm.org/Articles/2021/October/The-Role-of-Microbiology-in-Sustainable-Developmen
● Gopalasamy, Rajeswari. (2019). Role of Microbes in Envtl Sustainability. International Journal of Scientific Research.
6. 413.
● https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
● Souza, Rocheli de et al. “Plant growth-promoting bacteria as inoculants in agricultural soils.” Genetics and molecular
biology vol. 38,4 (2015): 401-19. doi:10.1590/S1415-475738420150053
● Singh, T., Basu, P., Singh, T. A., Boudh, S., & Shukla, P. (2020). Cyanobacteria as source of novel antimicrobials: a boon to
mankind. Microorganisms for Sustainable Environment and Health, 219–230. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819001-2.0
● Mani, S., Chowdhary, P., & Zainith, S. (2020). Microbes mediated approaches for environmental waste management.
Microorganisms for Sustainable Environment and Health, 17–36. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819001-2