Novel Insights on Sustainable Nanoparticles in Crop Protection: Current Status and Future Prospectives

Plant diseases caused by microbes account for 30–40% yield loss every year. Conventional agricultural management approaches often depend on the use of substantial quantities of pesticides, which may have detrimental effects on both organisms and ecosystems. A basic tenet of sustainable agriculture is minimizing agrochemicals use to save the environment and preserve biodiversity. Indeed, it is imperative that sustainable agriculture be established as a low-input system characterized by reduced production costs and increased net returns. The use of contemporary nanotechnology in the field of agriculture holds the promise of improving the effectiveness of agricultural inputs. Hence, nanoparticles are a substantial way of maintaining the sustainable development of agroecosystems. Considerable attention is placed on the environmentally friendly approach to nanoparticle synthesis and its potential use in the control of pests and diseases. These possess paybacks for agriculture, like higher crop productivity, inhibition of plant pathogens, removal of unwanted pests at relatively lesser cost, energy, and waste production. Yet, there are many concerns regarding the application of nano-formulation in the management of plant diseases. These comprise the synthesis method for bulk production, their mechanisms of entry and translocation, effects on plant toxicity, impacts on soil beneficial flora and fauna, and the risks involved. Hence, a comprehensive examination is required to decode the bio-engineered nanoparticles and assess their rationalized use and agroecological toxicity. Hence, this chapter is intended to disparagingly highlight the synthesis and application of green nanomaterials and their toxicity and point towards the urgent need for sustainable nanotechnology for crop protection, highlighting the importance of nano-pesticides.