Role of nanotechnology in the management of agricultural pests

Abstract

The continuous use of pesticide-mediated insect control has led to the rise in insecticide resistance cases. It has now become a global problem and a matter of serious concern. Therefore, more reliable and advanced methods are urgently required for the control of insect/pests. Nanotechnology, an interdisciplinary field, has revolutionized different sectors of science and technology by introducing nanoparticles. Nanoparticles can be utilized for enhancing the efficacy of insecticides and pesticides in reduced doses. The use of nanotechnology in agriculture is less frequent compared to sectors like medicine and pharmacy. In this chapter, we give a gist of traditional insect/pest control strategies and discuss the potential of nanotechnology as a new tool for insect control.