Shaping the Deep Tech Revolution in Agriculture 2025

Nanotechnology includes the use of materials at the nanoscale for applications across industries.22 When certain materials are reduced to this scale, they may demonstrate properties different from those at the macro scale. Such nanoscale applications can be used to detect and deliver precise doses of nutrition and pesticide at different stages of plant growth, significantly reducing input usage and environmental impacts, while also improving productivity.23 Use cases of nanotechnology in agriculture range from nano inputs (for precise fertilizer and pesticide management) to nano carriers (for controlled release of inputs according to growth stages) and biosensors (for precise plant and disease monitoring).3.7 Nanotechnology Integration of nanotechnology: Before and after FIGURE 14 AFTER Farmers apply bulk fertilizers and pesticides at fixed intervals, often inputting acr oss entir e fields. Much of this input is lost through leaching, run-of f or evaporation, raising costs and causing soil and water pollution. Farmers r ely on periodic laboratory tests and manual scouting to check soil nutrient levels or detect pathogens, which can be time-consuming, costly and pr one to delays that r educe yield and quality .Farmers use nano fertilizers and nano carriers that r elease nutrients in a contr olled, targeted way . This enables the supply of nutrients to match the plant’ s needs over time and minimize losses. Nano-based biosensors embedded in soil or plants pr ovide r eal-time data on nutrient levels, moistur e or disease pr esence, allowing pr ecise interventions. This impr oves input efficiency , lowers the envir onmental impact and boosts yields with fewer applications. The pr ocess results in mor e sustainable farming, with better pr oductivity and healthier soils in the long term.BEFORE Shaping the Deep-Tech Revolution in Agriculture 22