Human-driven global nutrient imbalances increase risks to health

Research Status of Agricultural Nanotechnology and Its Application in Horticultural Crops

Global food security is facing numerous severe challenges. Population growth, climate change, and irrational agricultural inputs have led to a reduction in available arable land, a decline in soil fertility, and difficulties in increasing crop yields. As a result, the supply of food and agricultural products is under serious threat. Against this backdrop, the development of new technologies to increase the production of food and agricultural products and ensure their supply is extremely urgent. Agricultural nanotechnology, as an emerging technology, mainly utilizes the characteristics of nanomaterials such as small size, large specific surface area, and surface effects. It plays a role in gene delivery, regulating crop growth, adsorbing environmental pollutants, detecting the quality of agricultural products, and preserving fruits and vegetables, providing important technical support for ensuring the global supply of food and agricultural products. Currently, the research focus of agricultural nanotechnology is concentrated on the design and preparation of nanomaterials, the regulation of their properties, and the optimization of their application effects in the agricultural field. In terms of the research status, certain progress has been made in the research of nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides, nano-sensors, nano-preservation materials, and nano-gene delivery vectors. However, it also faces problems such as complex processes and incomplete safety evaluations. This review focuses on the horticultural industry, comprehensively expounding the research status and application progress of agricultural nanotechnology in aspects such as the growth regulation of horticultural crops and the quality detection and preservation of horticultural products. It also deeply analyzes the opportunities and challenges faced by the application of nanomaterials in the horticultural field. The aim is to provide a reference for the further development of agricultural nanotechnology in the horticultural industry, promote its broader and more efficient application, contribute to solving the global food security problem, and achieve sustainable agricultural development.

Copper-based nanomaterials: Opportunities for sustainable agriculture

The exponential growth of the global population has resulted in a significant surge in the demand for food worldwide. Additionally, the impact of climate change has exacerbated crop losses caused by pests and pathogens. The transportation and utilization of traditional agrochemicals in the soil are highly inefficient, resulting in significant environmental losses and causing severe pollution of both the soil and aquatic ecosystems. Nanotechnology is an emerging field with significant potential for market applications. Among metal-based nanomaterials, copper-based nanomaterials have demonstrated remarkable potential in agriculture, which are anticipated to offer a promising alternative approach for enhancing crop yields and managing diseases, among other benefits. This review firstly performed co-occurrence and clustering analyses of previous studies on copper-based nanomaterials used in agriculture. Then a comprehensive review of the applications of copper-based nanomaterials in agricultural production was summarized. These applications primarily involved in nano-fertilizers, nano-regulators, nano-stimulants, and nano-pesticides for enhancing crop yields, improving crop resistance, promoting crop seed germination, and controlling crop diseases. Besides, the paper concluded the potential impact of copper-based nanomaterials on the soil micro-environment, including soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial communities. Additionally, the potential mechanisms were proposed underlying the interactions between copper-based nanomaterials, pathogenic microorganisms, and crops. Furthermore, the review summarized the factors affecting the application of copper-based nanomaterials, and highlighted the advantages and limitations of employing copper-based nanomaterials in agriculture. Finally, insights into the future research directions of nano-agriculture were put forward. The purpose of this review is to encourage more researches and applications of copper-based nanomaterials in agriculture, offering a novel and sustainable strategy for agricultural development.