Green Chemistry and Molecular Tools in Agriculture
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: legumes; sustainable agriculture; abiotic stress; plant physiology; plant fertilization; plant product quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: health-promoting ingredients; pro-health food standards; bioavailability of modified food; digestion and absorption; food enrichment methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As sustainable agriculture gains increasing importance in the face of growing environmental challenges and resource limitations, green chemistry is emerging as a central paradigm for developing safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible agricultural practices. One of the key strategies in this field involves the transformation and revalorization of agricultural and food processing by-products—not for nutritional use, but for their potential in reducing waste, enhancing soil quality, producing bio-based agrochemicals, and supporting closed-loop agricultural systems.
Innovative molecular tools and green chemical technologies are enabling the development of alternatives to conventional agro-inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; moreover, they are promoting precision applications that minimize ecological impact. These approaches align closely with the core principles of green chemistry, including waste minimization, the use of renewable feedstocks, and safer, cleaner production methods.
The aim of this Special Issue is to showcase recent research and advances in the application of green chemistry and molecular strategies in agriculture. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that explore innovative uses of agri-food by-products as bioresources, as well as approaches that improve environmental performance, safety, and sustainability by reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals and enhancing the biological potential of natural compounds.
Topics of interest include the following:
- Natural bioactive compounds in biopreparations and their environmentally friendly synthesis.
- Innovative delivery systems for active substances (e.g., nanocarriers, microcapsules).
- Biofertilizers, biostimulants, and plant growth regulators, especially their influence on crop quality and productivity.
- Natural compounds enhancing plant immunity and development, as well as their molecular mechanisms of action.
- Analytical and diagnostic methods supporting green agricultural practices.
- Biosensors, chemometrics, and spectroscopy for detecting substances in plants, soil, and water.
- Environmental analysis of agrochemical residues.
- Molecular tools (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) for studying plant–environment interactions.
- Alternative fertilization strategies and food safety in sustainable systems.
Prof. Dr. Ewa Szpunar-Krok
Dr. Maria Czernicka
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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.
Keywords
- sustainable agriculture
- green chemistry
- agri-food by-products
- bioactive compounds
- biostimulants
- circular economy
- molecular tools
- eco-friendly agrochemicals
- soil health
- precision agriculture
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