Industrial agriculture has decreased the amount and diversity of soil life. However, soil life is essential for food production because some soil organisms help plants to grow by providing plant nutrients. For instance mycorrhizae are beneficial fungi that live in association with plant roots. De Beenhouwer et al. compared the diversity of mycorrhizae in wild and cultivated coffee plants. They observed that wild coffee plants had a much higher mycorrhizal diversity. Their findings reveal the conservation value of wild coffee and the possible application of mycorrhizae inoculation for producing coffee with few or without external fertilisers.
