Nanobioherbicide Applications

Abstract

With the current but devastating reality of about 30% of the world population in hunger, while famine and starvation ravaged 30 million people in Yemen, South Sudan, Somàlia, and Nigeria, food security through green nanotechnology revolution aimed at increasing agricultural production but minimizing the negative impact on the ecosystems cannot be overemphasized. Weeds reduce agricultural output and cause yield losses to a significant level; however, the use of chemically synthesized herbicides create environmental problems and herbicide-resistant weeds, hence, the need for nanobioherbicides as alternative. Harnessing the agro-biodervisity of the nature through bionanotechnology, this chapter succinctly and comprehensively discussed the applications of nanobioherbicides derived from plants with emphasis on the nanoparticles for agrochemicals, features (characteristics), approaches for applications, mechanisms of actions, and factors affecting the efficacy, as well as the toxicity and safety tests for nanobioherbicides. Nanoinformatics-enhanced weed control, and the challenges coupled with the future perspectives of nanobioherbicides for sustainable development and management of agricultural systems were also elucidated.