This article collection has been initiated as an outcome of a satellite session at the "Rhizosphere 4“ conference, held in Maastricht, the Netherlands from 21-25 June 2015. The majority of the manuscripts originate from contributions presented at the conference, promoting the research activities of the integrated EC Project BIOFECTOR, located within the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement n°312117), with the aim to investigate perspectives to use bioeffectors of microbial and non-microbial origin to optimise the efficiency of fertilisation systems as more sustainable alternatives to conventional mineral fertilisation. The topic addresses promising approaches but also limitations and future research needs of the investigated strategies.
Edited by: Prof. Dr. Günter Neumann