Plasticulture Functionalized with Pesticides for Sustainable Crop Protection: A Systematic Review

Crops face significant biotic stress from animal pests, pathogens, and weeds, driving widespread use of pesticides and plasticulture. While synthetic pesticides harm the environment and human health, biopesticides have limited stability. Plasticulture is not fully insect-proof and relies on fossil-based polymers. Biopolymer alternatives are emerging but require improved physical properties. Pesticide-functionalized plastics offer a promising solution by acting as a physical-chemical barrier against pests, enhancing pesticide stability, reducing environmental release, and improving polymer properties. This review highlights growing interest in this approach, driven by environmental concerns and advances in biopesticides and biopolymers. These systems effectively control pests at low doses. Functionalization also improves polymer properties─including light transmission, hydrophobicity, ductility, and thermal stability─though it may slow biodegradation. Further research should enhance biopesticide-polymer compatibility, optimize doses for long-lasting efficacy, assess environmental impacts, and develop fully biobased, biodegradable materials for sustainable crop protection. Finally, growing demand is expected to lower the cost of these new eco-friendly materials.