Pesticides are being used in agriculture to control pests for better yield and production. Conventional chemical pesticides are toxic and a threat to environmental health. To get maximum yield without affecting the environment newer approaches are being implemented. One of them is Biopesticides available on market but it is not widely used as it has some drawback. And in the meantime, Nanopesticides are being under develop utilizing nanotechnology, which can be a better option for pest control and better agriculture.
Introduction
Generally, pest refers to insects that destroy plants, food, etc. Pesticides have been widely using to get rid of these insects in agriculture. The pesticides are nothing but the chemicals or compounds used for killing pests, especially the harmful insects and microbes. Pesticides have provided a major contribution to agricultural development i.e. the “Green Revolution”. But conventional pesticides have high toxicity, non-biodegradability, and non-specificity; which can be resulted in a potential threat to our environment and human health as well. At the end of the day, we need a better environment and efficient agricultural yield. So to make this happen some new approaches have been emerged i.e. biopesticides, using other biological organisms and the nano pesticides, utilizing nanotechnology.
Biopesticides are biological in origin having little threat to the human or environment. It generally includes microbial pesticides, plant-incorporated protectants, and biochemical pesticides. The benefits of biopesticides are considerable, concerning human health and the environment. For instance, some of them are less toxic to get pest immunized. Biopesticides are quickly biodegradable so frequent reapplication may be required. Moreover, these are highly specific and environment friendly as the immediate effect is hardly seen in the field. But still, it was not accepted widely due to its drawbacks.
Understanding Nanopesticides
Nanopesticides utilize and explore the scope of Nanotechnology, which emphasizes the concept of particle size reduction and its properties. When the particle size comes to nano form (1nm to 100nm) the property and behavior of matter changes due to quantum size effect. For example when the particle of an element becomes very small (nanometer) in size, physically it facilitates more surface area to volume ratio leading to the changes in the physical like mechanical properties, electrical properties, and optical properties, etc. For instance, the increase in surface to volume ratio of some element could change the mechanical thermal and catalytic properties of that element. By applying these special characteristics Nanopesticide is developing. Nanoencapsulation of the pesticide is being done to minimize the doses and to get maximum effect with more target-oriented action of the pesticides. Here the pesticide or the chemical compound is encapsulated inside on an artificially synthesized nano matrix.
How it works
In the nanoencapsulation, nano-matrix coat is synthesized artificially in such a way that it facilitates the release of the pesticide only in the targeted environment like in specific pH condition, specific temperature, or in the presence of specific compounds. For example, the pesticide will release in the intestine, as the synthesized nano matrix will be dissolved in the environmental condition of the intestine of that specific insects, and will kill the targeted insects only. Nanopesticides for specific insects can be made using different nanomaterials. This reduces the doses as compared to the traditional pesticide where large doses of pesticides are sprayed. Thus it controls the release of toxic substances to the environment causing no harm to other beneficial organisms. Some encapsulation is done in such a way that it gets absorbed in the surface of the plant and facilitates prolong release which lasts for a longer time compared to conventional pesticides which washed away in the rain. Ultimately nano pesticides provide control over the frequent use of chemical pesticides.
Nanopesticides assure to provide a better solution to current problems with chemical pesticides. But the environmental impact of the nano pesticides made from nanoencapsulation needs to be deeply evaluated. We must keep in mind that “Technology-Yes, but Safety-Must” prior to implementing new innovations.
Dr. Prabodha Kumar Meher 