Nanofarming: Promising Solutions for the Future of the Global Agricultural Industry

Abstract

The agricultural sector is a vital source of human well-being that provides the necessities of daily life. A variety of farming systems are utilized in agriculture, such as a wide range of tillage options, no-till, agroforestry, precision farming, organic farming, cover cropping, crop rotations, etc. Each of these farming systems has unique challenges, and nanotechnology has successfully improved on many of them. Agricultural applications of nanotechnology include nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanosensors, nanobiotechnology, and nanoremediation. This study focuses on the application of nano-farming technologies to different farming systems. Suggested practices include nano improvement of soil quality, crop nano-protection under biotic stress, nanoremediation of polluted soil and water environments, nanomanagement of agro-wastes, nano-agrochemicals, nano-precision farming, and nanobiotechnology for modern farming. This review also addresses expected problems that may occur due to over application of nanomaterials to farming systems, such as nanopollution and nanotoxicity of agroecosystem compartments. Several dimensions are emphasized in this study, such as green energy, sustainable development, the circular bioeconomy, land biodegradation, pollution, and the one health approach, as essential for the global goals of sustainable development. Nanofarming presents both benefits and obstacles to human life. The exact balance between these benefits and challenges needs more study.

Pre-Sowing Treatments on Seeds of Forest Tree Species to Overcome the Germination Problems

“…Source: adopted from [32] Additionally, a prudent nursery practice involves germination rate testing for seeds stored for more than one month. Sowing 100 seeds in a shaded germination bed, followed by regular watering, allows for an accurate assessment of germination rates.…”

Nano-Food Farming Approaches to Mitigate Heat Stress under Ongoing Climate Change: A Review

“…Several questions need to be answered to determine whether the nano-food farming approach is a solution to heat stress. Many studies have investigated the potential of nanotechnology as a potent and novel technique to enhance the agricultural food sector (e.g., [34,177,178]). Nano-farming for food security can be achieved with farming practices such as applying suitable nano-agrochemicals to improve crop performance [96,[179][180][181][182], nano-bioremediation of polluted soil and water [183], and nano-smart farming for food security [44,184].…”

“…Nano-farming refers to the application of nanomaterials (NMs) or nanoparticles (NPs) in agricultural production [34]. This can be performed in different ways, including nano-priming of seeds to increase germination through the regulation of ROS [35], nanofertilization to increase crop productivity during the growing season [36], nano-pesticide application for plant protection [37], nano-sensors to support smart farming [38,39], nanoharvest [40] or nano-postharvest [41,42] applications to reduce food spoilage, and plant nano-bionics to enhance or modify plant functions [43].…”

Nanoparticles as a Tool for Alleviating Plant Stress: Mechanisms, Implications, and Challenges

“…Consistent with these studies, current attempts are ongoing on for the integration of nanoscale sensors with wireless communication systems, enabling remote and continuous monitoring of agricultural fields. Furthermore, nano-farming strategies have aimed at a holistic integration of nanotechnology into farming practices [ 211 ]. These include the use of engineered nanomaterials, such as functionalized nanoparticles and nano-composites, for enhancing soil fertility, water retention, and nutrient availability [ 212 ] ( Figure 5 ).…”