Abstract

In the context of agricultural sustainability and the necessity for food security, using nano pesticides as an innovative technology represents an alternative with good potential to overcome the drawbacks of classical pesticides. This work provides a general overview of the main aspects in the area of nano-pesticides with a focus on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs). Although in its early infancy, the research performed so far indicated that compared with classical pesticides, MOF-based nano-pesticides show an improved performance, controlled and sustained active ingredient release and targeted delivery. Moreover, the flexibility in design and capability for modification and hybridization indicate MOFs as promising candidates for further improvements. Nevertheless, since the long-term toxic effects of MOF-based nano-pesticides are not yet fully understood, additional studies focusing on the impact of individual components and of the overall nano-system are required to determine if the envisioned potential can be reached. © 2023 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry