So it can produce much. Human lungs are the same. The inner surface is wrinkled and therefore very large allowing us to breathe a lot of air, so we can perform highly. The populations inhabiting the soil of the earth we stand and live on. Only by their massive and diverse total surface can all the very diverse food exchanges be implemented.
Sterility is no good here.
In fact it is counter productive. Most research is looking at dry and fresh weight produced. But instead of managing mass, finally the thought and practice of managing surfaces of exchange is emerging. The micro-farm as a key to biodiversity and high quality production. There would be no protection to pathogenic infection.