Opinion: Smart nanofertilizers for growth enhancement and stress resilience in agriculture

Abstract

Smart nanofertilizers (NFs) represent a promising frontier in agricultural technology, offering precise nutrient delivery and stress resilience to enhance crop growth and productivity while minimizing the environmental impact. This opinion article explores the potential of smart NFs in revolutionizing traditional fertilization practices and addressing the challenges facing modern agriculture. By harnessing the unique properties of nanomaterials, smart NFs including noble metal nanoparticles, green NFs, and novel NFs from industrial waste enable targeted nutrient delivery, enhanced nutrient use efficiency, and stress tolerance in plants. However, their widespread adoption faces regulatory, safety, and scalability challenges that require interdisciplinary collaboration and concerted efforts from stakeholders. Despite these hurdles, smart NFs hold immense promise for promoting sustainable agriculture and ensuring food security in frequently changing global climatic conditions.