Nanobiosensors for Smart and Sustainable Agriculture

Global agricultural systems are grappling with significant challenges in the current climate change scenario as they strive to enhance productivity while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions for transforming agricultural practices by optimizing input efficiency, reducing losses, and promoting sustainable agriculture. In agriculture, nanotechnology has brought about significant advancements with nanobiosensors and nanoformulations (NFs). Nanobiosensors detect biotic and abiotic stressors in crops before they can affect yields. Meanwhile, NFs create more efficient and environmentally friendly agrochemicals. These include nanoparticle-based fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, which enable precise, site-specific delivery of agrochemicals, improving their efficiency and reducing the required dosages. The two primary challenges in agriculture are the increasing food demand driven by global population growth and the decline in crop yields caused by various biotic and abiotic stresses. Conventional methods are inadequate to address all these issues comprehensively. Therefore, it becomes crucial to explore more effective alternatives. Nanotechnology applications in this context have the potential to revolutionize sustainable agriculture. Nanobiosensors, designed with specific types of nanomaterials possessing unique properties, exemplify this potential. Smart farming aims to support sustainable agriculture by monitoring and identifying environmental factors and plant health characteristics. Recently, there has been notable progress in various biosensors, such as electrochemical nanosensors, optical nanosensors, nano-barcode technology, electronic Noses (e-Nose), electronic Tongues (e-Tongue), wireless nanosensors, and wireless sensor networks. These biosensors are highly dependable, cost-effective, and effective in solving numerous challenges related to food safety, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.