Opportunities and Limitations of Nanoagrochemicals

Nanoagrochemicals conceived based on safe-by-design principles could provide, besides yield increases, real benefits for the environment due to lower losses of agrochemicals to wind drift and rainwater run-off, and lower toxicity to non-target organisms. As an emerging new technology rather than 'just another' active ingredient, nanoagrochemicals should be evaluated and compared to conventional products using multiple criteria, including the production costs, efficiency, mode of action, degradability, and (lack of) effects on non-target organisms. Current studies on nanopesticides suggest, on average, ca. 31 % more efficiency and ca. 43 % less toxicity on non-target organisms. Observations of a 5-10-fold increase in efficiency in laboratory studies need validation in the field. The most significant challenges for nanoagrochemicals today are to produce them at competitive costs and overcome the regulatory obstacles to register products containing nanomaterials.

Automated summary

Nanoagrochemicals based on safe-by-design principles can increase crop yield and have less impact on the environment and non-target organisms. Current studies show that nanoagrochemicals are more efficient and less toxic to non-target organisms compared to conventional products. However, their efficacy in field conditions needs further validation, and production costs and regulatory obstacles are major challenges for their implementation.