Harnessing Cold Plasma Technology: Advancements and Applications in Sustainable Agriculture

ABSTRACT Cold plasma, a non‐thermal, partially ionized gas, is emerging as a versatile tool with strong potential to improve sustainable agriculture through pre‐ and post‐harvest stages. Cold plasma‐derived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species can enhance seed germination, stimulate plant growth, bolster stress tolerance, and inactivate pathogens without causing thermal damage or degrading quality. Pre‐harvest applications include seed treatment, modulation of plant‐associated microbiomes, and enhancement of antioxidant defenses. Post‐harvest, cold plasma enables surface decontamination, shelf‐life extension, and degradation of agrochemical residues in food, water, and soil preserving sensory and nutritional attributes. Although optimization of treatment parameters, long‐term impacts, and development of cost‐effective large‐scale systems remain, integrating cold plasma with other sustainable technologies could firmly position it within future resilient food production systems.