Role of Beneficial Soil Microorganisms in Engineering Agricultural Sustainability Under Changing Climate Scenario

Climate change has a significant impact on plant health and productivity. Climate change causes the intensification of environmental stresses, including flashes of extreme weather events and prolonged climate stress episodes. These stress factors affect various plant physiological processes and mechanisms at different growth stages. Climate change-induced environmental stressors, along with human population outbursts, have created huge pressure on the agricultural sector, leading to the use of excessive chemicals in the agro-ecosystems. In recent years, beneficial soil microorganisms have emerged as excellent, cost-effective, and sustainable alternatives to combat climate change-related environmental stresses. These microorganisms employ various mechanisms to reduce the effects of environmental stress on plants. Microorganisms ranging from rhizospheric bacteria and fungi to endophytic origins have gained recognition as biofertilizers and biopesticides; however, many challenges must be overcome to realize their true potential from laboratories to fields. In the future, advances in technologies will create new insights into plant–microbe interactions, combating climate change, and their deleterious effects on agriculture.