Applications of Green Chemistry Principles in Agriculture: A Summary

Source: Bhandari, S., & Kasana, V. (2018). Green Chemistry & Technology Letters, 4(2). DOI: 10.18510/gctl.2018.422

Introduction to Green Chemistry in Agriculture

Green chemistry seeks to make products and processes safer. It lowers the use and creation of harmful chemicals. This method also cuts environmental and health risks. Agriculture needs safe practices to slow pollution, save resources, and avoid the harms of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

Challenges in Conventional Agriculture

• Fast industrial growth and higher crop yields lead to polluted air, acid rain, water nutrient overload, deforestation, and more greenhouse gases.
• Farmers use synthetic pesticides that pollute water bodies and build up in living things. This build-up harms humans, animals, and plants.
• Chemicals like DDT stay in nature. They build up over time to harm ecosystems.
• The Green Revolution boosted farm yield with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Yet, these tools are not safe over time.

Green Chemistry Principles and Their Relevance

Anastas and Warner presented 12 principles of green chemistry in 1998. These ideas help create safe and sustainable chemical methods. They focus on:

• Choosing non-toxic, renewable feedstocks.
• Making energy-efficient and safe ways to synthesize chemicals.
• Using most of the material and cutting extra parts.
• Making products that are safe, long-lasting, and work well.
• Allowing products and wastes to break down naturally.

Farmers use these ideas to craft pesticides and fertilizers that harm the environment less. The method lowers chemical leftovers and protects nature.

Applications of Green Chemistry in Sustainable Agriculture

• Green Catalysts and Biocatalysis: Enzymes such as reductases, oxidases, and hydrolases help create farm chemicals. These enzymes work well, save money, and protect the environment.
• Green Solvents: Green solvents replace dangerous and volatile organic liquids. For example, ionic liquids are non-volatile organic salts that do not easily evaporate. They make work safer and cut down on damage.
• Renewable Biomass Resources: Renewable biomass turns into farm products from nature. This use reduces waste and lessens environmental harm.
• Reducing Synthetic Pesticides: Organic farming and biopesticides made with green chemistry lower the risks from chemical residues.
• Energy Resources: Renewable energy from the sun, wind, biomass, and earth warms up farm processes in a safe and steady way.

Consumer and Industry Trends

• Consumers ask for clear details about food growing and pesticide use. They want sustainable food production.
• The agrichemical industry must switch to a new green era. It now works to use safe chemicals and greener methods.

Conclusion

Green chemistry can change agriculture. It decreases harmful effects from old farming methods while keeping crops healthy. Its principles help design safe chemicals, use renewable inputs, and build eco-friendly systems. These steps boost farming and protect the health of people and the planet.

Keywords: Green Chemistry, Sustainable Agriculture, Pesticides, Biocatalysis, Green Solvents, Renewable Resources, Environmental Health.

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