Basic Substances and Nanotechnology: Bridging Sustainability and Innovation for Fungal Disease Management in Plants

Plant diseases caused by fungi remain a major challenge for global agriculture, undermining both food security and ecosystem resilience. The increasing concern about the use of chemical pesticides, the onset of resistance, and environmental pollution are accelerating the search for effective and more sustainable plant protection alternatives. In this context, basic substances have emerged as prominent solutions for integrated pest management because they are naturally derived and have consistently been shown to present a low risk to human health and the environment. In the meantime, advances in green nanotechnology are enhancing their functional potential through improved stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery. By reducing application rates and decreasing residues, environmentally friendly nanoformulations, which may be produced using biopolymers, plant extracts, or mineral precursors, would have greater durability. These innovations are in line with the Farm to Fork Strategy under the European Green Deal and the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, enabling the transition to more sustainable food systems. Addressing challenges related to safety evaluations of nanoformulations and production scalability will contribute to public acceptance. This review synthesizes current scientific advances in the formulation and application of natural compound-based nanoformulations alongside evolving policy frameworks and identifies pathways to integrate harmonized risk-assessment approaches into future governance. It aims to promote the adoption of nano-based natural substances as key elements of next-generation sustainable crop protection strategies.