ABSTRACT
Agriculture is one of the most important human activities in the world. The constant growth of the population requires a warranty on the food demand ensuring the conservation of natural resources which have been also affected by anthropogenic pollution. Nowadays, agrosystems are facing critical challenges that, if not resolved, would put food security at risk which could generate global problems at a catastrophic scale.
Extensive use of fertilizer and pesticides negatively affects human health and the environment. Despite the huge advancement of the agrochemical sector, recent results have demonstrated that these conventional chemical products have not been sufficient for increasing the crops’ productivity without affecting the soil, water and their biotic and abiotic elements, altering the ecological equilibrium and human health.
In this chapter are revised the most important aspects related to the synthesis and characteristics of NCs used in agriculture, as well as their use for alleviating biotic and abiotic stress to ensure the productivity and yield of crops. The use of NCs to remove pollutants in soil and water is also reviewed. Finally, it discusses the world regulatory frame related to the use of NCs in agriculture, and some points are highlighted to foster research in this field and ensure the safe use of nanomaterials in agriculture.
