Understanding the problem at hand: nanotechnological implications that cannot be foreseen

With the advancement of nanotechnology, the possible releases of nanoparticles have attracted significant consideration. In the present scenario, nanoparticles with new functional properties have been developed and continue to spread in almost every field of science, industry, biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, etc. Plants are intrinsic to ecosystems and plant–nanoparticles interaction is imperative for risk assessment. The entire acceptability and propensity to use nanotechnology in plants and the agricultural industry are constrained by the growing worries regarding bioavailability, transport, fate, inappropriate regulatory framework, and nanoparticle toxicity. A realistic approach is also lacking in the current research trends, which prevents a thorough understanding of risk assessment criteria and the nanoparticles’ toxicity toward plant, soil, and soil microbiome components following their release into the environment. A systematic evaluation of information on the influence of nanoparticles on plants and agricultural practices is required to improve our understanding of the effects of nanoparticles. Hence this book chapter focuses on the problems related to nano-toxicity and risk assessment factors on exposure of plants to nanoparticles. We also try to address the possible outcomes of the long-term and large-scale applications of nanomaterials in the field of social health and environmental concerns. Likewise, this chapter also suggests the future perspectives of the research direction for the safer use of nanoparticles in agriculture, which would lead us toward sustainable development.