In the face of escalating pressures from climate change, environmental degradation, and escalating pest and disease burdens, traditional agricultural practices are proving insufficient to ensure food security and sustainable crop production. Nanoomics, a pioneering interdisciplinary field, offers a promising avenue for addressing these challenges by harnessing the unique properties of nanomaterials and integrating economic principles to devise innovative solutions. By addressing both abiotic and biotic stresses, this chapter delves into the diverse strategies and mechanisms employed to enhance crop resilience and productivity. Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing nanoscience, plant biology, and agricultural economics, this chapter examines the synthesis, characterization, and deployment of nanomaterials for stress detection, monitoring, and mitigation.
TopIntroduction
Nanoomics, a convergence of nanotechnology and omics sciences, holds immense promise in addressing the complex challenges of abiotic and biotic stress in agriculture (Usmat et al., 2020; Demirer et al., 2021). Abiotic stressors such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, along with biotic stress factors like pests and pathogens, jeopardize global food security by impeding crop growth and yield (Singh et al., 2024; Khan et al., 2021). Nanoomics harnesses the unique properties of nanomaterials to engineer tailored solutions for stress management in agriculture. By leveraging nanoscale phenomena, such as increased surface area and enhanced reactivity, nanomaterials can effectively target and modulate plant responses to stressors (Singh et al., 2022; Singh et al., 2023a). For instance, nanoparticles can improve water use efficiency, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance, thereby bolstering crop productivity under adverse environmental conditions (Liu et al., 2021; Singh et al., 2022).
Nanotechnology offers a suite of tools to combat abiotic stressors prevalent in agriculture. Nano-enabled irrigation systems and soil amendments enhance water retention and nutrient availability in arid and saline soils, mitigating the impacts of drought and salinity stress on crops (Shola et al., 2023b). Furthermore, nano-fertilizers and smart delivery systems ensure efficient nutrient uptake by plants, minimizing nutrient deficiencies and optimizing growth even in nutrient-poor environments (Singh et al., 2023c). In the realm of biotic stress management, nanotechnology presents novel approaches for pest and disease control. Nanoparticle-based formulations of pesticides and antimicrobial agents offer targeted delivery and prolonged efficacy, reducing chemical usage and environmental contamination (Singh et al., 2021; 2023d; 2023e; 2024a). Additionally, nanobiosensors enable early detection of pathogens and pests, facilitating timely interventions to prevent disease outbreaks and crop losses. Despite its immense potential, the widespread adoption of nanoomics in agriculture faces several challenges, including safety concerns, regulatory hurdles, and ethical considerations (Ghazaryan et al., 2018; Singh et al., 2022). Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaborations, robust risk assessment frameworks, and stakeholder engagement to ensure responsible and sustainable deployment of nanotechnology in agriculture (Rajput et al., 2021; Ghazaryan et al., 2023). Looking ahead, continued research and innovation in nanoomics hold the promise of transformative solutions to mitigate abiotic and biotic stress, thereby safeguarding global food security and sustainability (Khan et al., 2021; Shoala et al., 2023).