Food security is an urgent global challenge, with cereals playing a crucial role in meeting the nutritional requirements of populations worldwide. In recent years, the field of metagenomics has emerged as a powerful tool for studying the microbial communities associated with cereal crops and their impact on plant health and growth. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cereal metagenomics and its role in enhancing food security through the exploration of beneficial and pathogenic microbial interactions. Furthermore, we will examine how the integration of metagenomics with other tools can effectively address the adverse effects on food security. For this purpose, we discuss the integration of metagenomic data and machine learning in providing novel insights into the dynamic interactions shaping plant-microbe relationships. We also shed light on the potential applications of leveraging microbial diversity and epigenetic modifications in improving crop resilience and yield sustainability. Ultimately, cereal metagenomics has revolutionized the field of food security by harnessing the potential of beneficial interactions between cereals and their microbiota, paving the way for sustainable agricultural practices.
Keywords: cereal crops; food security; metagenomics; microbial communities.