The Challenge of Pesticide Application to Developing Sustainable Agriculture

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing reliance on chemical pesticides has raised significant concerns regarding their impact on the environment, ecosystems, and public health. Since the 20th century, the modernization of agriculture has led to a surge in pesticide usage, which has improved crop yields but has also contributed to soil and water pollution and biodiversity loss. With a growing focus on sustainable agriculture, there is an urgent need to explore alternatives that ensure food security while minimizing environmental hazards.

This Special Issue, "The Challenge of Pesticide Application to Developing Sustainable Agriculture", aims to investigate the complexities of pesticide use within the context of sustainable agricultural practices. We seek to compile cutting-edge research that highlights innovations in precision agriculture, biopesticides, and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

We invite submissions in the form of empirical research papers, comprehensive review articles, and opinion pieces. Manuscripts should discuss the challenges of pesticide application, evaluate current practices, and propose sustainable solutions that can foster a more environmentally friendly agricultural future.

Agriculture plays a critical role in the global economy; however, the widespread use of chemical pesticides has significantly impacted the environment, ecosystems, and human health. In recent years, there has been a growing global focus on sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides while ensuring food security and exploring more environmentally friendly alternatives. To address this challenge, various stakeholders, including governments, research institutions, and farmers, are actively seeking solutions, such as promoting ecological farming, integrated pest management (IPM), and precision agriculture technologies.

This Special Issue aims to thoroughly explore the challenges posed by pesticide application to sustainable agricultural development, assess the environmental and health impacts of pesticide use, unveil sustainable alternatives, and promote the sharing of research findings to provide guidance. Topics may include the following:
- Environmental impact assessment of pesticides;
- Risk analysis of pesticides on agricultural ecosystems;
- Technologies and methods for improving pesticide use efficiency;
- Case studies on ecological agriculture and integrated pest management (IPM);
- Innovative solutions for pesticide alternatives (such as biopesticides, plant protection, etc.).

We hope this Special Issue will cover the following cutting-edge research areas:
- Innovations in precision agriculture technology related to pesticide application;
- The role of biopesticides in sustainable agriculture;
- Recent advancements in pesticide residue monitoring technologies;
- The effectiveness and economic analysis of pesticide alternatives;
- Application of ecosystem services in agriculture and their influence on pesticide use.

We welcome the following types of submissions:
-Research Papers: Empirical research data and analysis discussing the challenges of pesticide application and sustainable solutions.
-Review Articles: Comprehensive overviews of current pesticide use and its impacts, covering cases from various regions and climatic conditions.
-Opinions and Comments: Insights on the future directions of agriculture and pesticide use.

Dr. Kang Qiao
Dr. Mingwei Song
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• pesticides
• sustainable agriculture
• integrated pest management (IPM)
• biopesticides
• environmental impact
• precision agriculture
• ecological farming