PUBLIC TALK: How useful are Bioinoculants?

A public lecture by Miranda Hart, School of Biology, University of British Columbia and 2016 UWA Gledden Visiting Fellow.

The use of bioinoculants (bacteria or fungi) is a common practice in many managed systems. In some cases, this practice is essential and plants will not grow otherwise (i.e. Rhizobial inoculants). The story is less clear for other inoculants. The inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is growing in many different sectors, including grain agriculture, arboriculture, horticulture and landscape restoration. But are these inoculations useful? There is little data to go on.

This lecture will cover the current practice of using of AM fungi as bioinoculants in agriculture and restoration. It will weigh the benefits and risks of inoculation, in a practical and ecological context. A primary focus will be the difficulty of answering that question.

Cost: FREE but RSVP requested via the website.