The Concept of Microbiome Stewardship (Focus on Environmental Microbiomes)

In this talk, Dr Mallory Choudoir examines microbiome stewardship through the lens of environmental microbiomes that underpin climate regulation, soil fertility, and ecosystem health. She introduces the definition and guiding principles of stewardship, highlighting how human actions are altering microbial communities and creating unequal health impacts. With case studies spanning agriculture, policy, and climate change, Dr Choudoir outlines responsibilities and actions for maintaining microbial biodiversity, and calls for collaborative approaches to integrate microbiomes into environmental governance and justice.