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The review aims at highlighting the manifold applications of cow dung (CD) and CD microflora covering agricultural, biotechnological and environmental applications. The update research on CD microflora and CD in agricultural domain such as biocontrol, growth promotion, organic fertilizer, sulfur oxidation, phosphorus solubilization, zinc mobilization and underlying mechanisms involved in these processes are discussed. The significance of CD applications in tropical agriculture in context to climate change is briefly emphasized. The advances on genomics and proteomics of CD microflora for enhanced yield of enzymes, organic acids, alternative fuels (biomethane and biohydrogen) and other biocommodities, and environmental applications in context to biosorption of heavy metals, biodegradation of xenobiotics, etc. have been given critical attention.

Historically, pickling is one of the oldest preservation methods of several foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat. Pickling imparts unique and desirable changes in flavor, texture and color that take place over time in fermented pickles. Microorganisms (mainly lactic acid bacteria, Micrococcaceae, Bacilli, yeasts, and filamentous fungi) play a pivotal role in the pickling of foodstuffs while affecting the quality and safety of the final product. This review focuses on the common traditional fermented pickles and their nutritional, therapeutic, and economic potentials. Furthermore, the technological progress in screening microbial communities associated with the traditional pickles is summarized. Finally, this paper will tackle with the role of pickles in filing the gap in food security, the safety aspect of traditional pickles and biofortication as an interesting technique to improve the quality of traditional pickles.