Pest resistance mechanisms and comparative evaluation of conventional, biological, and nano-enabled pest control strategies

The use of pesticides has become a very crucial part of contemporary agriculture as they protect the crops and secure food security. Nevertheless, the wide application of traditional chemical pesticides has increased the rate of resistance evolution in pest populations by acting through such mechanisms as mutations at target sites, increased metabolic detoxification, and behavioural changes. Such difficulties have increased the demand for sustainable alternatives. Biochemical pesticides and nanobiopesticides have become potential solutions that can provide action on a targeted basis with minimal environmental impact. Bioactive compounds or natural organisms that form the basis of biopesticides are inherently biodegradable and may have relatively low target specificity, which may reduce the selection pressure against resistance in the conditions of their proper use. Nanobiopesticides may also be used to enhance these properties by employing nanocarriers to enhance the stability of formulations, penetration, and controlled release of active ingredients. In several laboratory and semi-field studies, their nano-scale characteristics have been demonstrated to enhance the efficacy of delivery, and in certain instances to minimise the frequency of application. The degree of mitigation or non-target safety, however, depends upon context, i.e. formulation, dose, crop system, and exposure scenario. Altogether, biopesticides and nanobiopesticides show encouraging perspectives to be included as a supplement to traditional pesticides and enhance the results of pest management when considered as a part of the evidence-based models of IPM instead of being applied as a single measure. Adoption of biopesticides and nanobiopesticides is a great milestone in the attainment of sustainable pest management. These technologies can help to increase the resilience and environmentally friendly manner of farming by improving the efficacy, minimising environmental contamination, and decreasing the pressure of resistance. Their usage will be important towards improving integrated pest management and protecting long-term crop productivity.