Nanobiopesticides in agriculture: State of the art and future opportunities

Abstract

Abstract The increasing human population needs a larger quantity of food. This can be achieved by the intensification of agriculture and by effective pest control. In addition to traditional approaches, nanotechnologies and nanomaterials are being increasingly promoted in the agriculture and food industries. Thus, nanoagrochemicals have played a more and more important role in food production, and many nanoscale materials have found their application in crop and food protection as well as delivery and targeting of fertilizers. Unfortunately, many applied nanopesticides are able to pollute the environment, which finally results in threatening the health of the human population and the damage or destruction of nontarget organisms. Therefore, biopesticides, which are agents used to manage agricultural pests by means of specific biological effects, have become more and more popular. Nature-based pesticides possess lower stability, therefore, nanoformulations have been designed and investigated, which protect biopesticides from degradation, increase and prolong the effectivity, increase the bioavailability, and enable controlled release of formulated active ingredients. This contribution comprehensively reviews the latest findings related to nanoformulated biopesticides, that is, presents an overview of current pesticide-effective organic or inorganic (poly) materials of natural origin, essential oils loaded in various matrices, and green-synthesized metal or metal oxide nanoparticles. Special attention is devoted to bioinsecticide nanoformulations that are highly effective against the larvae of different types of mosquitos because they are not only pests but also vectors of various tropical human neglected diseases. The future perspectives of the widespread use of biopesticides at changing environmental conditions are considered as well.