The Soil Microbiome in Agriculture: Opportunities and Challenges

Mohamed Idbella is an Assistant Professor of Soil Microbial Ecology at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Morocco. He earned his PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, where his doctoral research explored negative plant-soil feedback mechanisms in agroecosystems, with a focus on the roles of soil chemistry, microbiota, and extracellular self-DNA. His research sits at the intersection of microbial ecology, plant-soil-microbe interactions, and soil health, emphasizing both fundamental and applied aspects of microbiome-driven processes such as nutrient cycling and disease suppression. Dr. Idbella has conducted extensive postdoctoral research in Italy and the United States, including at the University of Florida, investigating how soil microbial communities influence crop productivity and resilience. He specializes in metagenomics, microbial network analysis, and bioinformatics, and has contributed to over 60 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals. His work addresses emerging challenges in sustainable agriculture, including microplastic pollution, soil degradation, and the restoration of post-mining ecosystems. He currently leads multiple research projects, including a flagship initiative on rebuilding carbon sinks in phosphorus mining areas. Dr. Idbella serves on the editorial boards of Discover Soil (Springer Nature), iMeta (Wiley), and Microorganisms, and is a Review Editor for Frontiers in Industrial Microbiology. He is also an active member of several scientific societies and frequently participates in international conferences as a speaker, session chair, and panelist.