Summary
This comprehensive review examines nano-enabled microbial bioinputs (particularly bionanofertilisers and bionanopesticides) as a means to overcome limitations in the environmental persistence, formulation stability, and field reliability of conventional microbial inoculants in sustainable agriculture. The authors discuss mechanisms by which nanomaterials enhance microbial function and persistence, review emerging applications in nutrient cycling and biological pest suppression, and critically assess biosafety, ecological and regulatory considerations. The review concludes that whilst laboratory and greenhouse evidence is promising, robust long-term field validation across diverse agroecological conditions remains lacking, and significant uncertainties persist regarding manufacturing scalability, regulatory harmonisation, and economic viability.
Regional applicability
The findings and technological frameworks discussed are applicable to United Kingdom farming systems, particularly where precision nutrient management and reduced synthetic pesticide use are policy priorities (e.g., under the Environmental Land Management scheme). However, the review emphasises that most evidence is from controlled environments; UK-specific field trials under variable temperate climate conditions would be needed to assess agronomic reliability and inform practical adoption.
Key measures
Mechanisms of microbial protection and stabilisation; delivery efficiency; controlled release; functional persistence; nutrient use efficiency; biosafety and ecological impacts; regulatory readiness; field performance validation
Outcomes reported
The review assessed advances in nano-enabled microbial bioinputs (bionanofertilisers and bionanopesticides), examining mechanisms of nanomaterial enhancement, biosafety, ecological impacts, and regulatory frameworks. It identified current evidence that nano-enabled formulations improve stability and agronomic performance, whilst highlighting knowledge gaps in field validation, environmental fate, and scalability.
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