Strategies　aimed　at　defining,　discovering,　and　developing　alternatives　to　traditional　antibiotics　will　underlie　the　development　of　sustainable　agricultural　systems.　Among　such　strategies,　antimicrobial　peptides　(AMPs)　with　broad-spectrum　antimicrobial　activity　and　multifaceted　mechanisms　of　action　are　recognized　as　ideal　alternatives　in　the　post-antibiotic　era.　In　particular,　AMPs　derived　from　microbes　with　active　metabolisms　that　can　adapt　to　a　variety　of　extreme　environments　have　long　been　sought　after.　Consequently,　this　review　summarizes　information　on　naturally　occurring　AMPs,　including　their　biological　activity,　antimicrobial　mechanisms,　and　the　preparation　of　microbial-derived　AMPs;　it　also　outlines　their　applications　and　the　challenges　presented　by　their　use　in　the　agroindustry.　By　dissecting　the　research　results　on　microbial-derived　AMPs　of　previous　generations,　this　study　contributes　valuable　knowledge　on　the　exploration　and　realization　of　the　applications　of　AMPs　in　sustainable　agriculture.　©　2022　Chinese　Academy　of　Engineering