Nanotechnology in pest management: advantages, applications, and challenges

Abstract

Pests are one of the most concerning biotic problems in agriculture and food. Humans are constantly in search of new strategies to control them. Traditional strategies like integrated pest management used in agriculture are insufficient, and applying chemical pesticides has adverse effects on animals and human beings in addition to declining soil fertility, pest resistance, elimination of natural enemies, environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity, and human health hazards. Using nanotechnology in pest management as an alternative strategy can be one of the most promising ways to overcome the problems of using conventional chemical pesticides. Although they still face many obstacles and uncertainties and More research is needed to improve their development, evaluation, and regulation, The advantage of nanotechnology as an alternative for the management of insect pests is increasing efficiency against target organisms and low toxicity of nanocides to non-target organisms, highlighting the insufficient collateral environmental damage were reported in this work. It also provides selective, targeted, and long-term-controlled release of formulated nanomaterial, which is ecologically more viable. So, using nanotechnology for insect pest management is considered environmentally sustainable and an excellent insect control strategy in green agriculture.