Nanotechnology Applications in Sustainable Agriculture
Summary
Advances in nanotechnology are reshaping sustainable agriculture by enabling precise delivery of nutrients and agrochemicals, enhancing crop resilience and resource efficiency. Nanofertilisers and nanopesticides offer controlled-release formulations that reduce leaching and volatilisation, thereby cutting input requirements and environmental contamination. Nanocarriers and nanocomposites facilitate targeted transport of active molecules to plant tissues, improving uptake and bioavailability while limiting off-target effects. Nanosensors deployed in soils and on foliage monitor moisture, nutrient status and pathogen presence in real time, supporting data-driven management. Silicon and other metal-oxide nanoparticles can mitigate abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought and heavy-metal toxicity by modulating plant physiological responses. Collectively, these technologies promise to bolster yields, diminish ecological footprints and enhance global food security, though their adoption hinges on thorough evaluation of long-term safety, life-cycle impacts and socio-economic viability.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Slow-release nanocomposite fertilisers based on thermoplastic starch and hydroxyapatite have been shown to regulate the availability of nitrogen and phosphate in soil. By dispersing hydroxyapatite particles within a urea-starch matrix, researchers achieved sustained nutrient release over several weeks, reduced ammonia volatilisation and inhibited phosphorus adsorption, thus improving nutrient use efficiency in incubation trials.
Polymeric and solid lipid nanoparticles have been developed to encapsulate fungicides such as carbendazim and tebuconazole. These carrier systems exhibited high association efficiency and modified release profiles, enabling gradual delivery of active ingredients to fungal infection sites. Encapsulation also lowered cytotoxicity in environmental assays, indicating potential to replace traditional formulations and reduce non-target impacts.
Nanotechnology Applications in Sustainable Agriculture publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology applications in sustainable agriculture across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanocomposite: A material combining nanoparticles with a polymer or inorganic matrix to achieve tailored release profiles of nutrients or agrochemicals.
Nanocarrier: A nanoscale vehicle designed to transport and deliver active substances, such as fertilisers or pesticides, to specific plant tissues or pathogens.
Nanofertilizer: A fertiliser engineered at the nanoscale to enhance nutrient use efficiency, reduce losses and enable controlled nutrient release to crops.
Nanopesticide: A pesticide formulation employing nanoparticles to improve stability, reduce environmental dispersion and target delivery of active ingredients.
Solid lipid nanoparticle: A lipid-based nanoscale carrier that encapsulates hydrophobic agrochemicals, offering biodegradability and sustained release.
Polymeric nanocapsule: A polymer-based hollow nanostructure capable of enclosing pesticides or fertilisers for delayed release and protection from premature degradation.
References
- Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Perspectives. Frontiers in Microbiology (2017).
- Nanopesticides and Nanofertilizers: Emerging Contaminants or Opportunities for Risk Mitigation?. Frontiers in Chemistry (2015).
- Application of silicon nanoparticles in agriculture. 3 Biotech (2019).
- Role of Slow-Release Nanocomposite Fertilizers on Nitrogen and Phosphate Availability in Soil. Scientific Reports (2017).
- Polymeric and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Sustained Release of Carbendazim and Tebuconazole in Agricultural Applications. Scientific Reports (2015).
- Sustainable synthesis of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) from agricultural residues: A review on plant stress mitigation and the sustainability triangle. Green Technologies and Sustainability (2025).
- Nanotechnology for Plant Disease Management. Agronomy (2018).
- Nano-Fertilization as an Emerging Fertilization Technique: Why Can Modern Agriculture Benefit from Its Use?. Plants (2020).
About these summaries
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