Barbara Ann Halkier says: “Towards the goal of increasing food production while sustainably managing natural resources, there is an urgent need to find alternative solutions to present-day crop production with heavy use of synthetic agrochemicals. Harnessing nature’s beneficial microbes to sustain and improve crop productivity and yield is regarded a cornerstone of the next green revolution. Our aim is to isolate new beneficial microbes contributing plant growth promotion to plants from soils across Danish habitats. Using a model plant, we will gain mechanistic understanding of the role of exuded plant metabolites in recruiting and maintaining beneficial microbes. An innovative approach for pre-inoculation of seeds to sustain the viability of beneficial microbes will be developed and translated to field trials on nutrient-poor soils. Our research will contribute new knowledge and biotechnological tools for the application of beneficial microbes as biostimulants in sustainable food production.”