Nanopesticides: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Nanotechnology has touched almost all aspects of life right from energy, pharmaceutics, food, textiles, and cosmetics. Even agriculture is witnessing revolution due to advent of nanofertilizer, nanoherbicides, nanoinsecticides, and many more. Application of nanopesticides has particularly created considerable impact in advancement of agrobiotechnology. However, such extensive application of nanopesticides has recently started to raise concerns about their plausible impact on the health and environment. Hence, this chapter discusses in detail, a number of nanopesticide formulation that include nanoemulsions, nanodispersions, and polymers. Silica-based nanocomposites, metals, and metal oxide nanoparticles consist of elemental silver, selenium, iron, nickel, calcium, and copper that have emerged as promising nanopesticides are also discussed in detail. In spite of the potential applications of the nanopesticides in agriculture, it is still in its infancy that needs to be reconsidered in order to provide amicable solution to address the obstacles employing a proper standardization and regulation. In view of the background, the toxicity and environmental impacts of nanopesticides are also covered along with the regulatory guidelines. The proposed solutions in developing more biocompatible environmentally benign nanopesticides can serve dual purpose of benefitting both agriculture and environment.