Modern agricultural management is heavily dependent on the fertilizers for promotion of crop production, but the massive use of inorganic and chemical-based fertilizers currently available may be a serious threat to human health and environment. Fertilizer research is therefore focusing on shifting to the exploitation of microbes as a more ecofriendly approach for sustainable agriculture. The biotechnological toolbox contains microorganisms such as microalgae, cyanobacteria, endo- and ecto-mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobacteria, and others that are able to live in association with higher plants. This review article focuses on the research achievements on microalgae- and cyanobacteria-based plant biofertilizers and biostimulants in the agricultural applications. The challenges to commercializing these kinds of biofertilizers are also discussed.
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