Advances in Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture: A Review of Climate Change Mitigation

Valentina Quintarelli, Mortadha Ben Hassine, Emanuele Radicetti, Silvia Rita Stazi, Alessandro Bratti, Enrica Allevato, Roberto Mancinelli (), Aftab Jamal, Muhammad Ahsan, Morad Mirzaei and Daniele Borgatti
Additional contact information
Valentina Quintarelli: Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Mortadha Ben Hassine: Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Emanuele Radicetti: Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Silvia Rita Stazi: Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Alessandro Bratti: Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Enrica Allevato: Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari n. 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Roberto Mancinelli: Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Aftab Jamal: Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Muhammad Ahsan: Department of Horticultural Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
Morad Mirzaei: Botany Discipline, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Daniele Borgatti: Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-27

Abstract: Currently, one of the main challenges is the mitigation of the effects of climate change on the agricultural sector. Conventional agriculture, with the intensive use of herbicides and pesticides to control weeds and pests, and the improper use of mineral fertilizers, contributes to climate change by causing increased greenhouse gases and groundwater pollution. Therefore, more innovative technologies must be used to overcome these problems. One possible solution is nanotechnology, which has the potential to revolutionize the conventional agricultural system. Active nanoparticles can be used both as a direct source of micronutrients and as a delivery platform for bioactive agrochemicals to improve crop growth, yield, and quality. The use of nanoparticle formulations, including nano-pesticides, nano-herbicides, nano-fertilizers, and nano-emulsions, has been extensively studied to improve crop health and shelf-life of agricultural products. Comprehensive knowledge of the interactions between plants and nanoparticles opens up new opportunities to improve cropping practices through the enhancement of properties such as disease resistance, crop yield, and nutrient use. The main objective of this review is to analyze the main effects of climate change on conventional agricultural practices, such as the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. It also focuses on how the introduction of nanoparticles into conventional practices can improve the efficiency of chemical pest control and crop nutrition. Finally, this review examines in depth the last 10 years (2014–2024) of scientific literature regarding the use of nanoparticles in agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Keywords: climate change; agricultural management; nanomaterials; crop physiology; crop establishment; biotic stress; abiotic stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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