Emerging role of phosphate nanoparticles in agriculture practices

The massive rise of the world's population and consequent urbanization has resulted in a substantial global need for food, as well as a diminution of rural areas. The worldwide farming community is challenged with the enormous issue of feeding an ever-increasing human population on decreasing agricultural land. Conventional farming methods are proving ineffectual, and they seem to be incapable of meeting the world's future food demands. The use of nanotechnological techniques in the quest to improve global food production appears to be addressing the problems. Nanomaterials have recently been introduced into agriculture and have shown to be very promising for the long-term development of agroecosystems. A wide range of nanoparticles has already been introduced into agroecosystems to improve production. Phosphate is an essential component of genetic material that is required by all plant systems. Although exogenous phosphate supply is still used to improve yield and quality of output, the provision of phosphate nanomaterial has various advantages over the bulk form. Phosphate nanoparticles help to reduce the amount of phosphate required. In agroecosystems, these NPs also help to improve photosynthesis, plant development, and phosphate cycling. It also helps to improve the health of the agroecosystem due to its unique bioremediation characteristics. The use of phosphate nanoparticles in plant genetic transformation could aid in the development of new plant lines. This chapter discusses the importance of phosphate-containing nanoparticles as a modern agriculture approach in the establishment of a sustainable agroecosystem, as well as their function in raising agricultural productivity to feed the world's growing population.