Probiotics: Microbes poised to transform food production and health.

Microbes poised to transform food production and health. At Canada’s Food University, microbes are rapidly emerging as a star player in the quest to produce food safely and sustainably, and improve gut health in both food animals and consumers.

This is because microbes – ubiquitous yet virtually invisible to the naked eye – play essential but usually unsung roles across the food chain. 

 Some of these roles are well known; for example, microbes help cycle nutrients in soil, making them available for crop uptake and growth, and without microorganisms we wouldn’t have some of our favourite foods such as cheese, yoghurt, wine and beer. 

But other roles are just beginning to be understood, such as the ability of “good” microbes to suppress harmful pathogens in soil, plants, food products and the gut. Microbes poised to transform food production and health.