Safe nanotechnologies for increasing effectiveness of environmentally friendly natural agrochemicals

Natural compounds and living organisms still have a limited use in crop protection, and only a few of them have reached the market, despite their attractiveness and the efforts made in research. Very often those products have negative characteristics compared to the synthetic compounds, e.g. higher costs of production, lower effectiveness, lack of persistence, and inability to reach and penetrate the target plant. Conversely, nanotechnologies are having an enormous impact in all human activities, including agriculture, even if some nanomaterials are not environmentally friendly to produce, or could have adverse effects in the agriculture and the environment. Thus, some nanomaterials could facilitate the development of formulated natural pesticides, making them more effective and more environmentally friendly. Nanoformulations can improve efficacy, reduce effective doses, and increase shelf-life and persistence. Such controlled release products can improve delivery to the target pest. This review considers some available nanomaterials and nanotechnologies to be used in agriculture, discussing their properties and feasibility in the perspective of their use in sustainable crop protection, in particular to improve the effectiveness of natural bio-based agrochemicals.