Figure 4.

Some possible strategies for large-scale propagation of bioremediation biologicals. Once a given self-propagating biological is generated in the laboratory and produced on a small scale it needs to be formulated and delivered extensively to the target sites. Various possible avenues to this end are sketched. (a) Coating of plant seeds or preparation in seed-size biodegradable capsules and dispersion in soil with agronomic machinery. (b) Spreading onto soil or aquatic systems with aerosols or aerial sprinkling of aqueous suspensions. (c) Portage in animal (e.g. insects, worms) carriers. Insects in various development stages are excellent transporters of microorganisms while worms are major soil processors, e.g. in composting. There are ample opportunities for combining the power of some species or their larvae to grind solid pollutants (e.g. plastics, lignin residues) with fortification of their microbiome for their biodegradation. (d) Wind, tornados and dust storms take solid particles and their associated microorganisms to higher layers of the atmosphere through which they can be transported at very long distances. This offers a highway for long-range circulation of biologicals of all types. (e) Clouds are excellent natural niches for methanotrophs and many other types of bacteria and can travel to far locations. Cloud microbiology could converge with artificial cloud seeding for area-wide release of biodegradation agents to a large variety of places.