The rising global population and climate change demand sustainable weed management to ensure food security. Conventional herbicides face limitations due to resistant weed species, land use changes, and environmental concerns. Nanoherbicides offer promising solutions through targeted delivery, reduced residues, and enhanced efficacy. A scientific evaluation of their mechanisms, benefits, and limitations is essential to support their integration into sustainable agriculture. This article explores the potential of nanoherbicides as a sustainable alternative to conventional herbicides, emphasizing their role in precision weed management through nanocarrier systems and controlled-release formulations. It highlights how organic and inorganic nanocarriers enable targeted delivery, minimize environmental damage, and improve herbicide efficacy while reducing chemical runoff and soil/water contamination. The review also discusses the ecological and regulatory concerns, stressing the need for standardized global guidelines and multi-tiered risk assessments to ensure environmental and human safety. It presents strategies for minimizing these risks by utilizing eco-friendly nanomaterials and context-specific controlled-release systems integrated with advanced monitoring protocols. From this study, nanoherbicides emerge as a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional herbicides, offering targeted weed control with minimal environmental disruption. Nanocarriers enable controlled-release formulations that reduce chemical runoff and improve herbicide efficacy. Despite their benefits, concerns remain about bioaccumulation, toxicity to non-target organisms, and long-term effects on soil health. A multi-tiered risk assessment framework is essential to ensure environmental safety and effective regulation. Advancements in smart delivery systems and encapsulation technologies hold promise for future precision weed management. Nanoherbicides offer a promising approach to sustainable weed management, in line with the global push for environmentally friendly agricultural practices and food security.
Sabharwal et al. (Mon,) studied this question.