Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) areassociated with plant roots and augment plant productivity and immunity; however, recent work byseveral groups shows that PGPR also elicit so-called‘induced systemic tolerance’ to salt and drought. Aswe discuss here, PGPR might also increase nutrientuptake from soils, thus reducing the need for fertilizersand preventing the accumulation of nitrates and phosphates in agricultural soils. A reduction in fertilizer usewould lessen the effects of water contamination fromfertilizer run-off and lead to savings for farmers.