Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Agricultural nanotechnology for a safe and sustainable future: current status, challenges, and beyond.

Santos PA, Biraku X, Nielsen E, Ozketen AC, Ozketen AA, Hakki EE.

J Sci Food Agric · 2025

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Summary

This review, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, surveys the state of nanotechnology as applied to agricultural systems, covering the use of engineered nanomaterials in fertilisation, crop protection, and soil remediation. It is likely to address the dual promise of nanotechnology in enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability whilst critically examining the ecotoxicological risks, knowledge gaps, and governance frameworks that must be resolved before widespread adoption. The multi-national author group suggests a broad international perspective on both research advances and regulatory heterogeneity.

UK applicability

Whilst this review is international in scope, its findings are broadly applicable to UK agriculture given ongoing interest in precision and sustainable input technologies; UK applicability is, however, constrained by evolving post-Brexit regulatory frameworks governing nanomaterial use in food and farming, which differ from EU and other international standards.

Key measures

Crop yield improvements; nanomaterial efficacy; environmental and toxicological risk indicators; regulatory frameworks

Outcomes reported

The paper reviews the current status of agricultural nanotechnology, examining its applications in crop production, pest management, and soil health, alongside associated safety concerns and regulatory challenges. It likely assesses the potential of nanomaterials (e.g. nano-fertilisers, nano-pesticides) to improve sustainability and reduce agrochemical inputs.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Agricultural inputs & emerging technologies
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Arable cereals
DOI
10.1002/jsfa.13922
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-02g

Topic tags

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