Cited by 512Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive PhysiologyAnaerobic Digestion and Biogas ProductionAgriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact

The rumen microbiome: balancing food security and environmental impacts

Mizrahi, Itzhak, Wallace, R. John, Moraïs, Sarah·2021·Nature Reviews Microbiology

Abstract

Ruminants produce edible products and contribute to food security. They house a complex rumen microbial community that enables the host to digest their plant feed through microbial-mediated fermentation. However, the rumen microbiome is also responsible for the production of one of the most potent greenhouse gases, methane, and contributes about 18% of its total anthropogenic emissions. Conventional methods to lower methane production by ruminants have proved successful, but to a limited and often temporary extent. An increased understanding of the host-microbiome interactions has led to the development of new mitigation strategies. In this Review we describe the composition, ecology and metabolism of the rumen microbiome, and the impact on host physiology and the environment. We also discuss the most pertinent methane mitigation strategies that emerged to balance food security and environmental impacts.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41579-021-00543-6

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178 of 178 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Ruminants rely on mutualistic microbes in their digestive system to convert plant biomass to volatile fatty acids, which serve as the primary energy source for ruminants.

    “These microbes enable ruminants to derive most of their energy and nutrients from otherwise indigestible fibrous plant cell wall materials [2, 3].”

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Authors
Mizrahi, I., Wallace, R. J., & Moraïs, S.
Affiliations
  • Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
Venue
Nature Reviews Microbiology
Published
2021-05-12
Volume
19
Issue
9
Pages
553-566
ISSN
  • 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-1534
OpenAlex
W3160905321
Cited by
490
References
178
Citations by year
2026: 111 · 2025: 124 · 2024: 139 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 6
FWCI
9.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Keywords
rumen microbiome, ruminants, methane mitigation, greenhouse gas emissions, host-microbiome interactions, microbial fermentation, food security, environmental impact, ruminant digestion
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Food Security, Animals, Bacteria, Environment, Rumen, Ruminants

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