Herbicides in modern sustainable agriculture: environmental fate, ecological implications, and human health concerns

Abstract

Abstract Herbicides play a crucial role in modern agriculture by controlling weeds and ensuring sustainable crop productivity. However, the use of herbicides has raised concerns regarding their contamination, posing serious threat to the environment, biodiversity, and food safety. Recent trends indicate a decline in the overall volume of herbicides usage, suggesting a shift towards more speciic and targeted formulations of herbicides. Also, there has been an increased use of systemic and preemergence herbicides. The global agriculture still faces several challenges because of the adverse environmental impacts

caused by herbicide contamination, both at the application site and ofsite. In view of the growing concern, it is necessary

to develop new herbicides with greater selectivity or bio-based herbicide that can degrade after successful control of the

intended weed population and minimize or eliminate the environmental hazards. Furthermore, the adoption of integrated

weed management practices rather than prolonged and repeated use of herbicide in agriculture can efectively reduce the

growth of herbicide-resistant weed populations. The present review is a single valuable resource, providing insights into

the recent trends and future challenges associated with herbicide use in modern agriculture, with a focus on human health

and food safety. Also, we emphasize the advancements in herbicide technology, emergence of new herbicide-resistant weed

species, regulatory considerations, and alternative approaches in herbicide use, all of which are particularly valuable to

agroecology, policymakers, and stakeholders.