6 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | December 2024 PLANT-TO-FUNGI COMMUNICATION DECODED AT U OF T Researchers at the University of Tor- onto (U of T) have cracked the code of plant-to-fungi communication in a new study published in the journal Molecular Cell. Using baker’s yeast, the researchers discovered that the plant hormone strigolactone (SL) activates fungal genes and proteins associated with phosphate metabolism, a system that is key to growth. This insight into how fungi respond to chemical signals at the molecular level could lead to new strategies for cultivating hardier crops and combatting disease-causing fungi. “As we begin to understand how plants and fungi communicate, we will better understand the complexities of the soil ecosystem, leading to healthier crops and improving our approach to biodiversity,” says Shelley Lumba, lead author and assistant professor in the department of cell and systems biology at the U of T. In the soil, plant roots engage with fungi in a silent molecular “language” to direct their structure. When plants release SLs, they signal fungi to attach to their roots, providing phosphates – the fuel plants need to grow, and a major component of most fertilizers – in exchange for carbon. Lumba and her fellow researchers investigated why and how fungi respond to SLs. Eighty per cent of plants rely on this symbiotic relationship, and enhancing this interaction with beneficial fungi could yield hardier crops, reduce fertilizer use, and minimize phosphate runoff. In other cases, disease-causing fungi can exploit chemical cues to infect crops, sometimes wiping out entire harvests. Understanding this chemical language could also help block such pathogens. Due to the complexity of the soil ecosystem, scientists couldn’t identify the specific chemicals that encourage beneficial fungi, or the effects of these signals, until now. BF The provincial government is planning to double its electricity grid capacity and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by transitioning to renewable sources. New infrastructure will see the construction of new solar and wind energy facilities, battery energy storage systems, and transmission corridors. And, as OFA director Tracey Arts recently explained, “new energy infrastructure buildouts will mostly be decentralized in rural regions and will increase demand for access to farmland.” Arts, whose family milks cows and grows crops near Thamesford, wrote in an Oct. 28 release that “it’s essential that we build this infrastructure in appropriate locations so that we don’t negatively impact the environment and take critical farmland out of production.” She noted that the responsibility for these assessments will fall on the developers of energy projects on farmland. So it’s essential for farmers to stay informed and understand the details if they are approached with an energy project proposal. “Before signing a lease or an easement agreement, make sure it fits into your plan for your farm or property.” Arts explained that the OFA has developed a detailed fact sheet on this issue. Here are highlights from that document, with things to consider in your decision-making process. Suggested terms are three-year option, 20-year first term, with fiveyear renewals. Include a clause that lets either side cancel the agreement within 30 days; Keep the area covered by the lease small and make sure the agreement only applies to the actual lot being leased; Include a map that outlines where farm activities aren’t allowed and where new buildings can’t be built. Add a clause or map indicating where trees may or may not be cut; Try to negotiate a lease agreement instead of an easement or conversion to an easement as they can be difficult or impossible to discharge; Ask the company to provide an annual valid certificate of insurance covering liability, and avoid taking on any responsibility for site security. The full fact sheet is available at ofa.on.ca/resources. BF - Paul Nolan OFA’S ENERGY-PROJECT CHECKLIST Energy Storage Canada photo Beyond the Barn
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