Bacterial secondary metabolites: recent advances and agricultural applications

Bioactive ingredients are a series of ingredients that have certain effects on humans’ health. They are attracting more and more attention in modern life, and their increased consumption stimulates the development of new production methods that are more efficient than traditional methods, which rely on extraction from natural tissues. Among the new production techniques, biotechnology production by fermentation of genetically modified bacteria shows great potential as an alternative to current production systems and is used for the industrial supply of several bioactive ingredients. A key component of biotechnological and biomedical development has always been research on bacteria. In this chapter, we highlight the bacterial production of many bioactive ingredients and their impact on agriculture. Fruits and vegetables with bioactive compounds have improved shelf life, revolutionizing postharvest techniques. For mankind to prosper, we must have more food, new drugs, and other goods. Natural and technological resources are the only issues that remain to be addressed.