Role of Microbial Biotechnology in Mitigating Climate-Induced Agricultural Stress

Climate change is worsening drought, salinity and extreme heat across MENA, threatening food security. Microbial biotechnology offers a sustainable solution by harnessing beneficial soil microbes like PGPR, AMF and endophytes that enhance crop resilience through nutrient mobilization, stress hormone regulation and antioxidant protection. Field trials in key crops (wheat in Egypt, olives in Morocco, date palms in Saudi Arabia) show 15-28% yield increases, though challenges remain in strain optimization, farmer adoption and policy support. Scaling up requires region-specific microbial consortia, advanced delivery systems like nano-encapsulation, and integration with digital agriculture. By overcoming these barriers, microbial solutions can become vital for climate-smart agriculture in MENA, supporting both food security (SDG 2) and climate action (SDG 13) amid growing environmental stresses.