 Microbial inoculants have been used in agriculture for over a century, with impressive advances made in recent decades. The availability of quality products and elite strains at competitive prices has led to increased adoption among farmers, who now prefer them to chemical fertilizers due to their lower costs and improved crop yields. Microbial inoculants can also reduce environmental impacts from agrochemicals, while further research is needed to expand the use of these products to new crops and regions. This article was offered by Mariana Sanchez Santos, Marco Antonio Noguera and Marangela Hungria.