## 10 Current State and Future Perspectives  
Inoculation technology and the development of bioinoculants in the field of agriculture is an emerging field of research. Various bioformulations of fertilizers and pesticides have been designed within the framework of the development of sustainable agriculture. The advantage of encapsulation technology over other bioformulations has already been proven as it has been established that microencapsulation is preferable among other types of bioencapsulation. PCPMs' loaded microcapsules can be applied directly to the soil, with seedlings or as a seed coating. Microencapsulation makes it possible to control the number of viable and active cells trapped and the number of cells released to reduce the mortality rate during storage, and the microbeads can be applied directly or after a prolonged period of storage at low or at ambient temperature. Several encapsulation techniques are adopted for the immobilization of PGPMs or microbes for agricultural application. Extrusion or cross-linking and emulsification are the most compatible with heat-sensitive microorganisms, while spray drying is essentially suitable for heat-resistant and sporulating microorganisms. Thus, for an appropriate control, it is necessary to take into account technical parameters, such as the temperature of the process, its duration, the drying conditions, the availability of materials, and the desired equipment. Several types of microorganisms have been encapsulated, such as Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, actinobacteria, rhizobia, and fungi. Spore encapsulation is also feasible and promising, especially for fungi and spore-forming bacteria. The encapsulation of cocultures and combinations of several strains is possible, but the success of this design is challenging. Their coexistence inside the beads in the long term and their impact and that of their metabolites on the indigenous microbial communities of the rhizosphere remain not elaborated. More attention should be paid to the study of microbial interactions inside the capsule and within the plant microbiome. Natural, eco-friendly and low-cost biopolymers are efficient and profitable as formulation support. Additives prolong survival during storage and serve as a carbon/nutrient source. However, the additive(s) that suits the polymer, the microorganism, and the purpose of the application should be chosen. The incorporation of nanofibers and nanoparticles in bioformulations has shown relevant results in promoting plant growth and protecting crops. However, for a more appropriate field application, detailed studies on the toxicity and impact of nanoparticles on the environment and on humans are recommended. Hundreds of studies report the use of immobilized bioformulations in vivo (on seeds or on potted plants in greenhouses or in growth chambers under controlled conditions) but rarely on fields. In light of these facts, future research should focus on:  
* Industrial and large-scale production and field application of encapsulated bioformulations;
* Evaluation of the performance of encapsulated PGPMs in extreme environments and the long-term effect of interactions of PGPMs with host plants at the molecular, genetic, and physiological levels;