Microbiome Extended Phenotypes Lab
Where Plants, Microbes, and People Connect
At the Favela Lab, we investigate how plants, soils, and their microbiomes assemble and regulate ecosystem processes, using these insights to develop strategies that enhance agroecosystem resilience and sustainable food production under global change.
Research
Our lab explores how the interactions between plants and complex microbial communities shape ecosystem function in the context of the Anthropocene.
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Microbial communities (composed of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses) host an incredible amount of biodiversity and underpin ecosystem processes. Soils host the most diverse and dynamic microbiomes.
Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to interact with these soil microbiota, yet we are only beginning to uncover the breadth and consequences of these associations. Despite their importance, plant–microbiome interactions were largely overlooked by 20th-century agricultural practices, leaving untapped potential for improving sustainability.
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Our work aims to illuminate these interactions and translate this understanding into next-generation solutions for the agricultural sector. By harmonizing with plant microbiomes, we seek to develop science-based strategies that promote resilient ecosystems and advance functional sustainability.
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