Peter Stougaard
Professor
Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Biography
Microorganisms are found everywhere in the environment and play a leading role in countless natural processes. Among other things, they operate the basic drug cycles that are necessary for the plants' supply of nutrients via the reaction of organic matter in soil. At these processes, greenhouse gases are released to the atmosphere at the same time, so microorganisms also play a key role in relation to climate and climate change.
In addition to exercising their function in the environment, microorganisms also have a great potential for use. Some bacteria and fungi, so-called biocontrol organisms, can inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms, technical enzymes and enzymes for food production can be isolated from bacteria, yeasts and fungi, which are also major suppliers of pharmaceuticals such as e.g. antibiotics.
Microorganisms can therefore be seen as suppliers of so-called "ecosystem services", which are fundamental to the environment and to human life and activity.
