Metal Nanoparticles Could Transform Crop Protection

Protecting plants from diseases and pests is a massive global business worth $83.3B in 2025, growing at a 5% CAGR. Without effective crop protection, losses to pests and diseases would place additional pressure on food supplies, prices, and global food security.

And the pressure to keep agricultural yields high is still increasing, as the global population is expected to approach 10 billion. Meeting this growing demand will require a significant increase in food production, estimated at >50–60% over the coming decades.

However, crop protection still relies heavily on synthetic chemicals, some of which persist in the environment, contaminate waterways, or leave residues in food. So researchers have been trying to find alternative technologies.

“Current agricultural productivity is constrained by several factors, including climate change, soil degradation, low nutrient-use efficiency, and increasing biotic and abiotic stresses. These problems are exacerbated by the widespread use of traditional agricultural practices, such as the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which leads to soil degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity”

Instead of finding different chemicals, a new path of research is to investigate the potential of nanomaterials, whose characteristics are dictated not just by their composition, but by their structure at the atomic level.

Contrary to ordinary chemical treatments, nanoparticles can provide targeted delivery, controlled release, and enhanced bioavailability of active ingredients.

“Nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticles, possess unique physicochemical properties, such as a high specific surface area, reactivity, and potential for functional modification. Metal-based nanoparticles occupy a special place among nanoparticles because of their high biological activity”

Researchers at the ITMO University (Russia) and the Durban University of Technology (South Africa) have reviewed the state-of-the-art on this technology, as well as its future potential and limits.

They published their findings in the South African Journal of Botany¹, under the title “Metal-based nanoparticles for biotechnology: Applications in agriculture”.

Nanoparticles & Crop Protection

Antifungal Activity

A wide array of metallic nanoparticles has demonstrated significant potential in agriculture, including zinc oxide (ZnO), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂). They can be produced from «green» synthesis, using plant extracts and microorganisms as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative for producing metal nanoparticles.

Their most potent effect is as an antifungal treatment, killing or otherwise hindering the growth of pathogenic fungi. They work by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupting the cell membranes of the pathogens.

Source: South African Journal of Botany

More specifically, silver is one of the most potent metals for this application, affecting a wide range of fungal and bacterial pathogens (for the same reason, silver ions are already used in hospitals to combat infections).

Another well-known fungicide is copper. It seems to work by both strengthening the plant cells’ walls and inhibiting fungal growth.

Lastly, titanium nanoparticles are also known to be effective against fungal pathogens, while calcium carbonate and iron oxide nanoparticles have potential as well, but have been less studied.

Antibacterial Activity

The same nanoparticle can act as an antibacterial treatment through a variety of effects: immobilization, breaking the bacterial cell membrane, and generation of oxidative molecules (ROS).

As a bonus, eco-friendly synthesis methods allow the production of antibacterial nanoparticles that are biocompatible with the mammalian body, and therefore neutral for human health.

Source: South African Journal of Botany

Here too, silver, but also zinc and copper, are some of the most studied metals used to form these nanoparticles. Particle size alone does not determine efficacy. In one copper nanoparticle study, the formulation with the smallest particles unexpectedly exhibited the lowest antibacterial activity, showing that composition and surface characteristics also matter.

Source: South African Journal of Botany

It seems to be the most promising metals for this application, as for example, in one study iron oxide nanoparticles reduced disease severity by only 27% compared to 67% for silver.

Effects On Worms and Insects

Several metallic nanoparticle extracts from plants have been shown to have an effect on fighting infestation by insects, including iron (hematite – Fe₂O₃), copper oxide, and zinc oxide. Silver nanoparticles produced from plant extracts or cultures of bacteria known to be toxic to insects also demonstrated good results.

For this application, the most interesting use is maybe not in fields, but to preserve crops in warehouses, as grains and flour can be infested with pests. For this context,  aluminum oxide nanoparticles are already used in commercial operations.

Source: South African Journal of Botany

However, as food storage applications result in a higher concentration of the nanoparticles in the final food product, the authors of the study call for more analysis to ensure the safety of these nanoparticles in mammals and humans.

Another field of study requiring further investigation is undesirable toxic effects on beneficial insects, like bees and predatory insects eating pests.

When it comes to nematodes, small worms responsible for many crop diseases infesting over 3000 plant species, nanoparticles can help too. This is especially useful as nematodes are often hard to treat with conventional chemicals, with the activity of just the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) leading to significant crop losses, amounting to $100B worldwide.

“The use of metal nanoparticles could provide a faster and more affordable solution to the pest problem than expensive chemicals and genetic methods. ”

Green silver nanoparticles obtained using Aloe vera extract can achieve up to a 60% suppression against M. incognita, with even greater effect obtained in vitro.

Similarly, iron oxide, titanium, and copper nanoparticles significantly suppressed the development of M. incognita.

“Experiments on tomato plants revealed that the «green» nanoparticles exhibited the greatest activity against M. incognita: the nanoparticles reduced the number of laid eggs by 41% and the number of galls (reproduction sites) formed by 38% at a concentration of 200 mg/L over 45 days.”

Other Effects Of Nanoparticles On Crops

While the effects of metallic nanoparticles on pathogens and pests are the most important application of this technology, other biological activities can also be important.

For example, it seems that low concentrations of nanoparticles stimulate growth, while high concentrations can have toxic effects and inhibit physiological processes, with a strictly dose-dependent effect.

Source: South African Journal of Botany

It also promotes the growth of roots and shoots, as well as the formation of carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b.

This is an effect for which gold nanoparticles have also been studied. For example, gold nanoparticles were used to improve the germination of the rare medicinal plant Gloriosa superba.

Iron and molybdenum nanoparticles were even found to improve nitrogen uptake by Solanum lycopersicum plants.

Another interesting field is the use of nanoparticles to help remediate soil and plant contamination with heavy metals: titanium dioxide and selenium nanoparticles have been used to cleanse wheat plants of cadmium contamination.

Lastly, nanoparticles can help plants deal with environmental stress. They can help plants deal with excess salt, improving photosynthesis, or surviving droughts.

Source: South African Journal of Botany

Limits & Future Of Nanoparticles In Agriculture

In vitro and limited laboratory analyses have largely demonstrated the potential of metallic nanoparticles for agriculture, be it protection against pathogens and pests, or stimulating growth. The production of these nanoparticles from plant extracts is especially promising, offering a possibility for both “green” production paths and improved biological activity.

However, before large-scale deployment, a better understanding of the impacts on real farms still needs to be achieved. Notably, the impact on non-target organisms that play essential roles in agroecosystems, like bees, other pollinators (butterflies, flies, etc.), and earthworms, remains unclear. Innocuous species of nematodes, fungi, or bacteria can also be harmed involuntarily, which could impact soil health and carbon and nitrogen cycling. Overall persistence of the nanoparticles in the soil and environment at large, as well as chemical modifications (aggregation, sorption, dissolution, redox reactions, sulfidation) could also be important.

The regulatory frameworks for these products are also very fragmented and inadequate.

From the agrochemical industry point of view, the development of species-specific, non-toxic formulations through «safe-by-design» strategies will be required to achieve large-scale commercialization.

Still, investors should keep an eye on this technology, as it could improve the ecological profile of pesticide manufacturers while maintaining the efficiency in crop protection required to feed an ever more populated world.

Investing In Advanced Crop Protection

FMC Corporation

Among the top 5 largest agrochemical companies (including Syngenta, Bayer, Corteva, and BASF), FMC distinguishes itself by being the sole “pure-play” crop chemistry and biologicals specialist, lacking the secondary revenues from integrated seed and genetic traits business lines.

Instead of competing with them on low-margin commodity segments, its business model prioritizes proprietary, patented chemistries and specialized formulation expertise, with a focus for its innovative treatments on precision agriculture and biologicals (RNA, pheromones, etc.).

This puts the company in a good position to integrate new formula and biological innovations, like the nanoparticles discussed in this study, although those are still very much at the experimental stage and not a part of FMC’s revenue.

FMC’s competitive crown jewel is its premium insecticide portfolio, with herbicides the next largest market. Sales in North America and Latin America make up the bulk of the company’s revenue, followed by sales in the EMEA region.

Source: FMC

Its crop exposure is diversified, anchored by soybeans and fruits/vegetables (at 20% each) and balanced out by rice, corn, sugarcane, and cereals.

In 2026, the company experienced a decline in revenues and earnings due to the sale of its Indian subsidiary, while free cash flow stayed positive. The company aims to generate $1B in 2026 to reduce debt.

But FMC also saw a 50%+ growth in sales for new active ingredients, illustrating the success of its innovation-focused strategy, with increasing direct sales to growers in key markets like Brazil.

Source: FMC

Overall, FMC is a smaller and more seasonally cyclical company than the other big agrochemical companies, but also a lot more focused and centered around innovation and specific solutions for specific crops.

So this helps provide high margins, sustain innovation, and let the company’s stock give investors exposure to the advanced crop-protection market.

Latest FMC Corporation (FMC) Stock News and Developments

Study Referenced

^{1. Roman Olegovich Shaikenov et al,. Metal-based nanoparticles for biotechnology: Applications in agriculture. South African Journal of Botany. November 2026. Pages: 124-139. Volume 198. 10.1016/j.sajb.2026.09.013}