ABSTRACT
Agriculture is considered the backbone of a country as it not only meets the essential needs of humankind but is also a key driver of sustainability and economy. To attain food and nutritional security for the present as well as future generations and to address the future challenges of growing population rate, natural resource depletion, climate fluctuations, etc., technological innovations in agriculture are of extreme importance. Among many others, nanobiotechnological approaches are often applied in agriculture to improve the quantity and quality of produce. This chapter provides insight into the basic understanding of nanotechnology applications in agriculture. We have discussed in detail the use of nanotechnology in various agricultural sectors, for example, in seed science, fertilizer (nano-fertilizers) and herbicide/pesticide (nano-herbicide/nano-pesticide) industry, in water management, to detect nutrients, contaminants, and pathogens (nano-bio sensors), identification, and tracking of agri-food, quality enhancement of agri-products, recycling of agricultural wastes, and shelf-life enhancement of agricultural products. The application of nanotechnology in animal sciences, fisheries, and aquaculture, as well as a wireless nanosensor for precision agriculture, is also discussed.
