EXPLORING THE ROLE OF PLANT-BASED NANOPARTICLES IN SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The increasing ecological and health risks to the synthetic pesticid have triggered the efforts to find new sustainable alternatives in the contemporary agricultural practices. Among possible solutions, plant based nanoparticle (PNP) has received much attention because of their eco-friendliness, multifarious functionality in pest control and biocompatibility. This review examines the possibilities of PNPs produced by green technologies, mainly with the help of plant extracts, as a tool strategy to managing agricultural pests with limited ecological risk. Unlike the traditional chemical pesticides, PNPs possess some distinct physicochemical characteristics, namely, a large specific surface area, stability and increased bioavailability which explains their high activity towards a large variety of insect pests, plant pathogens and weeds. The study points out the dual generation of the PNPs in the form of them being not only direct pest-controlling agents but in addition as conveyors of bioactive molecules who target controlled release and effectiveness. In addition, they cause no harm to soil and water due to their capacity to decompose (however, they do cause ecological balance over the long-term). The other challenges, as highlighted in the discussion, include high volume manufacturing, regulatory submissions as well as toxicity potentials that needs to be worked out before commercial use. The examples of case study of silver, zinc oxide and copper nanoparticles synthesized using medicinal and aromatic plants give indications of potential success in reducing pests and improving yields. By combining the concept of sustainable agriculture with those of sustainable plant-based nanotechnology, farmers can alleviate the use of harmful agrochemicals to contribute to food security and green protection. Altogether, this paper builds the case that PNPs can become an important element of next-generation pest management strategies and provide a novel way toward eco-friendly, resilient, and sustainable agriculture.