The Environmental Paradox of Nano bioinoculants: Balancing Agricultural Benefits Against Ecosystem Risks

Burhan Khalid; Zaheer Ud Din; Ankit Saini; Muhammad Ikram; Musrat Shaheen; Muhammad Asaud Islam; Muhammad Atiq Ashraf; Hafiza Zara Saeed; Muhammad Wajid; Muhammad Umer Javed; Talha Riaz; Rizwan Maqbool

doi:10.62497/irabcs.161

Authors

Burhan Khalid College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China Author
Zaheer Ud Din Department of Biotechnology, National Formosa University, Taiwan Author
Ankit Saini Department of Agronomy, Eternal University Baru Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, 173101, India Author
Muhammad Ikram College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China Author
Musrat Shaheen Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan Author
Muhammad Asaud Islam Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan Author
Muhammad Atiq Ashraf College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China Author
Hafiza Zara Saeed Department of Botany, Government College University Faisalabad, 38000 Pakistan Author
Muhammad Wajid Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Pakistan Author
Muhammad Umer Javed Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT), Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan Author
Talha Riaz Huazhong Agricultural University Author
Rizwan Maqbool Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5701-7653

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62497/irabcs.161

Keywords:

Nanobioinoculants, sustainable agriculture, nanoparticle ecotoxicity, soil microbiome, regulatory governance, safe-by-Design

Abstract

Nanobioinoculants represent a groundbreaking innovation in sustainable agriculture, combining nanotechnology with microbial inoculants to enhance crop productivity, nutrient efficiency, and climate resilience. While these advanced formulations offer transformative benefits such as targeted nutrient delivery, reduced chemical dependency, and improved stress tolerance, their environmental safety remains a critical concern. This paper examines the dualistic nature of nanobioinoculants, balancing their agricultural advantages against potential ecological risks, including nanoparticle toxicity, soil microbiome disruption, and trophic transfer. We analyze current regulatory gaps and propose strategies for sustainable adoption, emphasizing eco-design principles, tiered risk assessment, and integrated policy frameworks. By advocating a Safe-by-Design approach, this work aims to guide responsible innovation, ensuring that nanobioinoculants contribute to food security without compromising ecosystem health.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Sharma P, Sharma MMM, Kapoor D, Loyal A, Husen A. Beneficial and adverse effects of silver nanoparticles on rhizosphere biology. In: Plant Response to Silver Nanoparticles: Plant Growth, Development, Production, and Protection. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore; 2024. p. 43-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7352-7_3

Meel S, Saharan BS. Enhancing crop resilience towards drought: by integrating nanotechnology, microbiomes, and growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Discov Agric. 2024;2(1):112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-024-00131-1

Nawaz S, Khan N, Malik S, Muzamil MN, Asghar A, Rashid S, Khalid B, Asim M, Ashraf MA, Riaz T. Lettuce genomics: leveraging BSA/BSR data analysis tools for trait mapping. South Asian J Life Sci. 2025;13:50-57. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.sajls/2025/13.50.57

Mahmood I, Sami A, Asad SA, et al. Zinc-oxide-nanoparticles in conjugation with Zn-solubilising bacteria improve Zn biofortification and nitrogen-use efficiency in wheat. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2024;24(3):5565-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-024-01926-3

Godfray HCJ, Crute IR, Haddad L, et al. The future of the global food system. Phil Trans R Soc B. 2010;365(1554):2769-77. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0180

Jangid H, Kumar G. Ecotoxicity of fungal-synthesised silver nanoparticles: mechanisms, impacts, and sustainable mitigation strategies. 3 Biotech. 2025;15(4):1-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-025-04266-w

Vishnu M, Kannan M, Soundararajan RP, et al. Nano-bioformulations: emerging trends and potential applications in next-generation crop protection. Environ Sci Nano. 2024;11(7):2831-60. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EN00263F

Raza M, Hussain Z, Abbas F, Ashraf MA, Imene HH, Riaz T. Advanced strategies for detection and diagnosis of potato viruses: harnessing molecular innovations and digital tools for precision agriculture. Hosts Viruses. 2025;12:39-46. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.hv/2025/12.39.46

Nawaz T, Gu L, Fahad S, et al. Exploring sustainable agriculture with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and nanotechnology. Molecules. 2024;29(11):2534. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112534

Ye X, Yang R, Yang Z, Huang B, Riaz T, Zhao C, Chen J. Novel angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from Porphyra haitanensis: screening, digestion stability, and mechanistic insights. Food Bioscience. 2025;59:106460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2025.106460

Muhammad F, Raza MAS, Iqbal R, et al. Ameliorating drought effects in wheat using an exclusive or co-applied rhizobacteria and ZnO nanoparticles. Biology. 2022;11(11):1564. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111564

Raza A, Charagh S, Salehi H, et al. Nano-enabled stress-smart agriculture: can nanotechnology deliver drought- and salinity-smart crops? J Sustain Agric Environ. 2023;2(3):189-214. https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12061

Masoumi Z, Haghighi M, Mozafarian M. Effects of foliar spraying with melatonin and chitosan nano-encapsulated melatonin on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Falcato) plants under salinity stress. BMC Plant Biol. 2024;24(1):961. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05672-7

Thapa RK, Kim JO. Nanomedicine-based commercial formulations: current developments and future prospects. J Pharm Investig. 2023;53(1):19-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40005-022-00607-6

Singh D, Gurjar BR. Nanotechnology for agricultural applications: facts, issues, knowledge gaps, and challenges in environmental risk assessment. J Environ Manage. 2022;322:116033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116033

Sharma B, Tiwari S, Kumawat KC, Cardinale M. Nano-biofertilizers as bio-emerging strategies for sustainable agriculture development: potentiality and their limitations. Sci Total Environ. 2023;860:160476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160476

Markowicz A. The significance of metallic nanoparticles in the emergence, development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Sci Total Environ. 2023;871:162029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162029

Ye X, Yang R, Riaz T, Chen J. Stability and antioxidant function of Porphyra haitanensis proteins during simulated gastrointestinal digestion: effects on stress resistance and lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025;293:139291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139291

Hu H, Tong YW, He Y. Current insight into enhanced strategies and interaction mechanisms of hydrogel materials for phosphate removal and recovery from wastewater. Sci Total Environ. 2023;892:164514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164514

ussain B, Riaz L, Javeed K, et al. Use of nanoparticles and fertilisers in alleviating heavy metals and improving nutrient uptake in plants. In: Sustainable Plant Nutrition. London: Academic Press; 2023. p. 153-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-18675-2.00008-0

Khalid B, Javed MU, Riaz T, Ashraf MA, Saeed HZ, Shaheen M, Nawaz S, Korai AK, Riaz R, Asim M. Refining plant-virus interactions: deciphering host range evolution and viral emergence dynamics. Hosts Viruses. 2025;12:47-61. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.hv/2025/12.47.61