Séminaire interfacultaire 2018 : "Des Microorganismes et des Hommes : une autre perspective sur le monde"
Scientists are typically driven by curiosity and bound to explore new potentials. Hence they regularly reposition their mindsets. With respect to the environment, we propose to integrate the fact that fossil fuel energy is and will remain cheap and that hydrogen is the energy carrier of the future. Moreover we consider that the consumer indeed is worried about long term food (quality protein) and drinking water supply and also climate change. Finally, we introduce a major new element in microbial technology, it is the power of the "microbiome" and of microbial resource management.
Using this assembly of mindsets, five challenges in which microbial technology can make a difference will be discussed. It is argued that the nitrogen problem of the planet must be drastically addressed by using less fertilizer and by making microbial instead of plant protein, thereby implementing green hydrogen gas as driver. Subsequently, the issue of diffuse methane emissions and global warming will be addressed. Then, the CO2 mitigation in the Paris agreements will be discussed and a proposal for a remarkable microbial contribution will be explained. As a fourth element, the need to redress the deterioration of the fresh water reserves of the world will be outlined. And finally, we will give a perspective of a new world in which microbes no longer are needed to be "stamped" out by all means, but rather in most cases can be rallied to become our allies for living healthy.