Microbial, nanotechnological and biosensor-based innovations for sustainable pesticide management

The world's expanding population and industrialization have greatly burdened farmers, who must produce more on increasingly scarce agricultural land to meet global food demand and to feed the growing human population. Additionally, changing climatic conditions have exacerbated pest infestations, which destroy up to 30% of crops annually. While the extensive use of chemical pesticides has helped address this issue, their long-term adverse effects on the environment and human health raise significant concerns. These concerns include soil and water contamination, biodiversity loss, pest resistance, and chronic health issues in humans, such as cancer and neurological disorders. Sustainable alternatives are urgently needed to address these challenges. Soil microorganisms can potentially degrade these pesticides as a sole source of carbon and energy. This review highlights the significance of integrating microbiological methods, nanotechnology, and biosensors as a cohesive trifecta for sustainable pesticide management. The article also covers microbial-mediated pesticide remediation, harnessing the capacity of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes to break down various pesticides, therefore alleviating their detrimental impacts. The combined use of nanotechnology in microbial bioremediation, known as microbial nano-bioremediation, offers a promising approach to enhance degradation efficiency and flexibility across diverse environmental settings. Innovations in nanotechnology-based sustained-release of pesticide formulations are also explored, which provide solutions to minimize ecological runoff and extend pesticide effectiveness. The review also highlights the importance of biosensors in rapidly detecting pesticide residues, thereby enabling timely and targeted remediation efforts. The findings of the literature study reveal that microbial-mediated remediation, when integrated with nanotechnology and biosensors, provides a scalable, eco-friendly, and efficient strategy for reducing pesticide reliance and restoring environmental health. This triad of approaches addresses the immediate challenges of pesticide overuse and paves the way for a sustainable agricultural future.