Pesticide, Herbicide and Nontechnology Application

The global population is expected to rise to 9.7 billion by 2050, requiring increased food production. Pesticides are crucial for agricultural growth, reducing product losses and improving food yield and quality. They were developed during World War II to enhance food supply and reduce insect-borne diseases. Global pesticide production has proliferated, from 0.2 million tons in the 1950s to over five million tons in 2000. However, their economic impact on nontarget species, including humans, is estimated at $8 billion annually in developing countries. Minimizing pesticide use can reduce crop loss by 35–42%, but agricultural activities must balance benefits against potential harms. Farmers use three times more pesticides than the global average, causing soil fertility damage, loss of growth, and contamination. Conventional pest control methods have impacted the environment and farmers’ economies. Global pesticide use results in biodiversity loss, soil microbiota damage, and toxic effects on soil microbiota and human health. Pesticides also cause intoxication, persistent disorders, and hundreds of deaths annually. Pesticides have the highest potential to spread cancer risk in humans. Nanotechnology, a science that uses atoms and molecules to create nanoscale structures, materials, and devices, has the potential to revolutionize agricultural and food systems. Agro-nanotechnology is emerging as a new era, contributing to new technologies and farming products. Nanoparticles can be used for plant hormone delivery, seed germination, water management, gene transfer, nano-barcoding, nanosensors, and controlled agrochemical release. Nanobiotechnology research focuses on synthesizing nanoparticles using chemical, physical, and biological methods. Green synthesis, which uses microorganisms and plants, offers advantages over chemical methods due to its dynamic nature, safety, and energy efficiency. Plant-based nanoparticles (NPs) have antimicrobial and antifungal properties and can enhance water solubility, reduce volatilization, and increase stability in solid woods.