Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture: studies from seed priming to post-harvest management

Food and agriculture sector directly relate to human life, and therefore intervention of nanotechnology in this sector has been recently approved by the regulatory authorities, very cautiously. The drawbacks associated with traditional methods of farming have restricted the utilization of available farmlands to full its potential. Nanotechnology has emerged as one of the most promising solutions to overcome the shortcomings of traditional agricultural practices. At every stage of agriculture (seed storage, priming, germination, fertigation, post-harvest), nanotechnology promises to improve crop productivity and quality. Use of nanoparticles as seed priming agents to enhance seed germination and crop productivity is encouraging. Nanoformulations positively influence seed germination, shoot to root ratio and overall growth. The site-directed and controlled release of encapsulated fertilizers and pesticides is a revolutionary change for crop improvement, environment and animal health. Efforts are being continuously made to create nanoagrochemicals to release specific nutrients in a controlled fashion, thus maintaining soil fertility and health. Nanotechnology has also helped in the development of smart, stronger and cost-effective polymers or nanocomposites-based packaging materials with efficient gas and water barrier properties. The use of suitable and protective packaging material has the potential to increase shelf life substantially, and thus these nanocoatings have come up as a great interest to the scientific society. This review aims to describe the current applications of nanotechnology in every aspect of agriculture, i.e., from seed priming/storage to post-harvest management of the crop produce.