Nanotechnology promises to help farmers cut pesticide use – but could also make chemicals more toxic
Nanotechnology has pervaded numerous industrial sectors over the past decades. Although many of us may not be aware of it, nanomaterials are now embedded within many of the the products we use in our daily lives. The agricultural sector might be next in line. Leiden environmental scientists Tom Nederstigt and Martina Vijver have assessed the potential against the risks. They discuss their findings on science platform The Conversation.
Pesticide products based on nanoscale materials – nano-enabled pesticides – are currently heralded as a promising new solution that could enhance the protection of crops from pests and disease, while posing minimal risk to the environment.
But, together with their colleagues, Nederstigt and Vijver argue in this new study that despite claimed sustainability benefits, adding nanomaterials to this equation is likely to do more harm than good.
Read the whole article on The Conversation - Nanotechnology promises to help farmers cut pesticide use – but could also make chemicals more toxic