Abstract

VAZQUEZ-NUNEZ, Edgar. Use of nanomaterials in agriculture and their ecological and environmental implications. Mundo nano [online]. 2023, vol.16, n.30, e00061.  Epub Aug 14, 2023. ISSN 2448-5691.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ceiich.24485691e.2023.30.69704.

The recent developments made in the field of nanotechnology have brought new opportunities for innovation and advancement in a substantial number of disciplines, amongst which agriculture prominently stands out. The current percentages of starvation across the globe, along with the estimated growth of population, combined with the environmental problems caused by erosion and usage of chemical products, have highlighted the need for better, greener customs, that may be resolved using nanomaterials. These materials at nanometric scale (called NMs from now on) present themselves as an attractive replacement to conventional materials, due to their attributes and the improvement they may represent. Pesticides and fertilizers are two of many products that have shown to be great prospects when produced at nano-level, with targeted and controlled release of agrochemical, which translates to an augmented biological effectiveness, overall achieving an increase in crop yield and productivity. However, just as the full potential of nanotechnology remains unknown; there is limited knowledge regarding the biosafety, adverse effects, fate, and biological reactivity of nanomaterials once they are introduced into the environment. The harm they may cause, not only to agroecosystems, but to human health and the environment, is not yet fully understood, despite the numerous scientific efforts that are being made to evaluate the intrinsic hazard NMs may cause. Therefore, this review strives to serve as a framework regarding the status of nanotechnology in agriculture: developments, applications and known risks. The characteristics of NMs applied in agriculture are reviewed, along with the results obtained from behavior and fate tests regarding plant species. In addition, the reported interactions between the biotic and abiotic components of exposed ecosystems are analyzed, to present a comprehensive study regarding the state and direction of nanoagriculture.

Keywords : nanomaterials; nanofertilizers; nanopesticides; agroecosystems.

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