Nano-Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture: Recent Developments, Challenges and Future Perspectives

Nanotechnology is a budding branch of science that is capable of creating a positive impact on theagriculture sector in various ways such as preventing and reducing the harmful effects of badagricultural practices on human and environment health, which will eventually assist in improving foodsecurity and productivity. Nanomaterials possess such novel physiochemical properties that are perfectfor developing helpful tools for sustainable agriculture. Due to their efficient delivery system,nanomaterials are being used to immobilize nutrients so that they can be delivered in soil quickly andeffectively; this helps in minimizing leaching while promoting nutrient uptake by plants (1,2). Thisproperty can also be utilized to deliver pesticides or fertilizers at targeted locations on desired time viaintelligent nano systems. It will help in preventing the flow of chemicals into the environment and alsoreducing the damage to other plants. Over the years nanomaterials have been used for smart foodpackaging, for environmental monitoring, for better plant growth and development, and for detectingnutrient deficiencies. Nanoparticle treatments have shown promising results in early seed germinationand improved vigour index (7, 21). However, for the worldwide acceptance of nanotechnology-basedapproaches and nano-enabled food products, we need to make the public aware of it. There should beenough evidence present to justify the safe use of nanomaterials in the food sector and agriculture. Thus,the current review article is focused on various issues related to impact ofnano-biotechnology onagriculture.