Nanopesticides

As applied to pesticides, the new and developing area of nanotechnology has the potential to bring real benefits, but also regulatory challenges. Reportedly, it has already begun changing the nature of some pesticides. There are consumer products on the market today using engineered nanoparticles of active ingredients such as silver to achieve antimicrobial effects, and many more are likely. Even as these consumer products are introduced, agricultural chemical producers are developing new pesticide products using nanotechnology to enhance the effectiveness or delivery of those pesticides. Among the uses of nanotechnology in agriculture currently being explored are agrochemical delivery (delivery of pesticides and other chemicals only when needed or for better absorption through micro encapsulation or by affinity for specific target pests), nanosensors, and new or modified active pesticidal ingredients.