Smart-controlled nanosystems for agricultural applications

Synthetic pesticides are indispensable for global food security, but their conventional formulations suffer from low efficiency and environmental contamination, with typically less than 30% of applied active ingredients (AIs) reaching target organisms due to drift, leaching, and photolysis. Smart-controlled nanocarriers, engineered to release active ingredients (AIs) upon specific triggers, represent a paradigm shift in precise plant protection. While the potential advantages of nano-enabled pesticides are widely recognized, a critical gap exists in translating laboratory innovations into high-efficiency applications in diverse agricultural scenarios. This review aims to propose the agricultural scenario-based design strategy for smart-controlled nanocarriers, which will accelerate the wide interdisciplinary cooperation to promote the practice and development of innovative nanopesticides. We categorize nanocarriers and present their advantages for AI delivery, and analyze the design strategy for smart-controlled release and synergistic mechanisms that enable the targeted delivery and stimulus-responsive release. Furthermore, we propose the novel concept of agricultural scenario-based design strategy, including dry farmland/paddy field, routine/organic agriculture, daytime/nighttime, acidic/alkaline environment, and common/recalcitrant pests and diseases. This approach synergizes material science with agronomic needs to enhance control efficacy, combat pesticide resistance, and reduce environmental impact (e.g., the overall activity increased by 31.5%, non-target toxicity decreased by 43.1%, etc.). Finally, we discuss research directions and perspectives related with production cost, synthesis route, field effectiveness, agricultural scenario-adaptive design, safety assessment, etc. Our novel concept is beneficial for exploring the agricultural scenario-based design strategy to be perfectly incorporated into integrated pest management.