Trace metals encapsulated biopolymers as nanobiocides for crop protection: A review

•Pathogenic transmissions due to pest/insect interactions with host plants are the major threats posed to crop production and food security globally.•The encapsulation of trace metals onto biopolymers can be used for the production of non-toxic nanostructured biocides for crop protection.•Different trace elements including copper, zinc, cobalt, iron, and nickel, etc. have been identified to impact the nutritive and antinutritive dietary requirements in food crops.•The pathways and mechanism of action of the zerovalent trace metal encapsulated biopolymers for crop protection were highlighted. Pathogenic transmissions due to pest/insect interactions with host plants have become major threat to crop production and food security globally. Over the last decade, the quest to secure the quality and quantity of food for a growing population has prompted the need to maximize food productivity and crop protection. Relevant literatures in this field were sought for, to document the progress and strategies put in place to curtail the spread of pest/insect vectors affecting food crops. Among these strategies, the application of chemical intervention (without which, physical damages to the food crops due to insect activities would be great, leading to yield losses) have led to the problems of resistance in target pest species, bioaccumulation in the food crops, adverse environmental conditions as well as health-related consequences in humans. However, the progress in nanotechnology and the encapsulation of trace metals onto biopolymers to form effective nanostructured biocides for crop protection is gaining significant scientific impetus. In this work, the nutritive and antinutritive composition of trace elements on food crops as well as the pathways and mechanism of action of zerovalent trace metal encapsulated biopolymers towards crop protection was reviewed in details. Nanoparticles encapsulated biocide in this review have revealed potential application as alternative to chemical interventions. Therefore, industrial action for the production of nanobiocides in an expanded application is required. [Display omitted]