<p>The impact of nanotechnology on contemporary agricultural practices is favorable as there is the use of fertilizers made up of nanoparticles, which are expected to deliver nutrients better than ever, improve crop yields, and cause minimal environmental impact. The review summarizes the existing developments in nanofertilizer preparations, their relationships with soil microbiota, nutrient bioavailability, and physiological pathways in plants. Evidence from controlled and field studies indicates that nano-formulations can increase NUE by 20–50% in major crops, reduce nitrogen leaching and runoff by up to 26%, and enhance micronutrient bioavailability in deficient soils. Distinct carrier systems indicated that nutrient nanoscale carriers enhance the efficiencies of nutrient uptake by roots, besides remodeling rhizospheric processes towards sustainable plant growth. Nonetheless, the issues of cytotoxicity, unwanted trophic transfer, and non-standard regulatory controls are major challenges posing serious barriers to mass implementation. These issues are critically discussed in the article, where the author considers the environmental fate of nanoparticles, their influence on the genetic expression in living organisms, and the possibility of ecological accumulation. It also shows significant gaps in research, such as the lack of validation on a field scale, the inconsistency of the formulation, and the lack of a common world policy framework. The review identifies future trends on intelligent nano-delivery systems, incorporating them into precision agriculture, and the necessity of multinational partnerships in research, with relevance to the arid and resource-constrained areas. This synthesis is a holistic, evidence-based view, which is necessary for those stakeholders, who are keen to harness nanotechnology responsibility in food production systems.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>