npj Sustainable Agriculture (Dec 2024)

The transformation of agriculture towards a silicon improved sustainable and resilient crop production

  • Jörg Schaller,
  • Heidi Webber,
  • Frank Ewert,
  • Mathias Stein,
  • Daniel Puppe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00035-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Sustainable and resilient crop production is facing many challenges. The restoration of natural reactive silicon cycles offers an opportunity to improve sustainability through reducing phosphorus fertilizer use and to increase crops’ resilience to drought stress and pests. We therefore call upon farmers, agri-food-researchers, and policymakers to pave the road for transforming agriculture to a silicon-improved sustainable crop production, which represents a promising approach to achieve food security under global change.