Citation:

Wang, D., N. Saleh, A. Byro, R. Zepp, Endalkac Sahle-Demessie, T. Luxton, K. Ho, R. Burgess, M. Flury, J. White, AND C. Su. Nano-enabled pesticides for sustainable agriculture and global food security. Nature Nanotechnology. Nature Publishing Group, London, Uk, 17:347-360, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01082-8

Impact/Purpose:

This review article presents the life cycles of the next-generation intelligent nanopesticides that have already showed great promise in integrated pest management for sustainable agriculture. This finding will guide and shape future research directions and priorities for maximizing the benefits while minimizing potential adverse impacts of the nanopesticides for sustainable agriculture and global food security.

Description:

Achieving sustainable agricultural productivity and global food security are two of the biggest challenges of the new millennium. Addressing these challenges requires innovative technologies that can uplift global food production, while minimizing collateral environmental damage and preserving agroecosystem’s resilience against a rapidly changing climate. Nanomaterials with the ability to encapsulate and deliver the pesticidal active ingredients (AIs) in a responsive (e.g., controlled, targeted, and synchronized) manner offer new opportunities to increase pesticidal efficacy and efficiency when compared to conventional pesticides. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis on the key properties of nanopesticides in controlling agricultural pests for crop enhancement compared to their non-nanoscale analogs. Our analyses show that when compared to non-nanoscale pesticides, the overall efficacy of nanopesticides against target organisms is 31.5% higher, including an 18.9% increased efficacy in field trials. Notably, the toxicity of nanopesticides toward nontarget organisms is 43.1% lower, highlighting a decrease in collateral damage to the environment. The premature loss of AIs prior to reaching target organisms is reduced by 41.1%, paired with a lower leaching potential of AIs by 22.1% in soils. Nanopesticides also render other benefits, including enhanced foliar adhesion, improved crop yield and quality, and a responsive nanoscale delivery platform of AIs to mitigate various pressing biotic and abiotic stresses (e.g., heat, drought, and salinity). Nonetheless, uncertainties associated with the adverse effects of some nanopesticides are not well-understood, requiring further investigations. Overall, our findings show that nanopesticides are potentially more efficient, sustainable, and resilient with lower adverse environmental impacts, compared to their conventional analogs. These benefits, if harnessed appropriately, can promote higher crop yields, and thus contribute towards sustainable agriculture and global food security.

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