Bio-Fertilizers are natural fertilizers which are microbial inoculants of bacteria, algae, fungi alone or in combination and they augment the availability of nutrients to the plants. These broadly include the nitrogen fixers (symbiotic & nonsymbiotic bacteria), phosphate solubilizing fungi and bacteria & the mycorrhizal fungi that are capable of mobilizing nonlabile nutrients from soil & transporting them to & across plant roots. So far, emphasis has been given only to certain types of biofertilizers, such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB). Usually carrier materials, such as peat, lignite, peat soil, humus, wood charcoal or similar material favoring the growth of microorganisms is used. However, in practice a large variety of microbial inoculants are available and being used as biofertilizers. These include Azolla, Trichoderma, Frankia and Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM). A point to consider before using biofertilisers produced by commercial units is the issue of using microorganisms native to another area or region. It is possible to isolate the required species of microorganisms from a farm's soil and mass produce them. Besides allowing a better chance of survival of the organism(s) used, this ensures that local species of microorganisms alone are used. There are a few crude (but fairly effective), as well as standard laboratory procedures for isolation and mass production of biofertilisers.

Biopesticides are types of pesticides derived from natural materials, such as microbes, principally viruses, bacteria and fungi. The biopesticide that is registered for use in West Africa derives from a fungus that is a specific pathogen of locusts and grasshoppers. It specifically targets those insects and does not affect non-target organisms. Biological control is an important component of integrated pest and pathogen management. Endophyticmicrobes, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, viruses, plant-derived compounds are all identified & characterized for use as biocontrol agents against a wide range of pathogens and pests attacking various crops. Biopesticides developed and currently made commercially available in collaborative projects with the private sector include, Biocanii, based on a strain of the fungus Verticillium lecanii for the control of whiteflies & thrips on flowers, beans, avocado, cotton, onion, citrus, asparagus, papaya, tomatoes & other horticultural crops, Biorhizium, based on two strains of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae for the control of various insects, such as spittlebugs in pastures, Biovirus, based on a baculovirus & used for the control of cassava hornworm & Ecoswing®,.a biofungicide formulated from extracts of the plant swinglia (Swinglia glutinosa).

Biocatalysis, bioprocessing & biotransformations involve the use of enzymes (often immobilized) and/or microorganisms (often immobilized whole cells) to perform chemical conversions. The enzymes are not reagents, but rather catalysis (biocatalysts performing highly focused biotransformations, but not consumed in the reaction). However, like all catalysts, there are stability issues that must be addressed for the biocatalytic process for it to be commercially sensible. Many synthetic organic chemists would like enzymes to be simple off-the-shelf catalysts that can be used painlessly to perform desired organic transformations. Applied biotransformations & biocatalysis are becoming more and more prevalent in the synthesis of fine chemicals & pharmaceuticals, as an efficient replacement for certain key reaction steps. Most important are pharmaceutical applications. There, the use of enzymes to catalyze stereospecific & regiospecific organic reactions is incredibly valuable due to potentially high degrees of selectivity and yield effected by enzymes. Another tremendous benefit is that the formation of side products can be significantly lessened.

Biofertilizer is defined as a product containing carrier based (solid or liquid) living micro-organisms which are agriculturally useful in terms of nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization or nutrient mobilization, so as to increase the productivity of the soil and/or the crop. These broadly include the nitrogen fixers (symbiotic and nonsymbiotic bacteria), phosphate solubilizing fungi & bacteria & the mycorrhizal fungi that are capable of mobilizing nonlabile nutrients from soil & transporting them to and across plant roots. Azospirillum species do not form root nodules or associate with leguminous crops. They live inside plant roots where they fix nitrogen, and can be used in wetland conditions. This group of microorganisms also produce beneficial substances for plant growth, besides fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Azospirillum does well in soils with organic matter & moisture content, and requires a pH level of above 6.0. Azospirillium led to saving of 15-25 kg equivalent of N2 per hectare.