Chapter 1
Agricultural Applications in Green Chemistry
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William M. Nelson Waste Management and Research Center, 1 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-7465
Agriculture is one of the oldest and global sources of human livelihood. It has matured from simple cultivation to sophisticated practices. Collectively, this complex situation exemplifies the sustainable agriculture dilemma. From the symposium on "Agricultural Applications in Green Chemistry" (ACS, Orlando, 2001) and through this book we try to show that green chemistry offers an array of innovative approaches to agricultural practices and it looks for ways to accomplish more benign chemistry, through guidance by nature in agriculture. There is much to indicate opportunities for increased agricultural yield, economic benefits for manufacturers and end users, and enhanced environmental performance through this dynamic synergism.
Desirable qualities for agriculture In a review chapter, "Green Chemistry and the Path to Sustainable Agriculture," Nelson delineates major desirable qualities for sustainable agriculture (reproduced in Table 1 below). Just as these are road signs on the path to sustainable agriculture, we can see how chapters in this book can fit nicely with these qualities. The characteristics can be used as a checklist of concerns regarding protection of the environment, production of healthy food and the practice of good ethics. The quality components have been placed into six categories. The protection of agricultural soils is essential for maintaining the production potential and ensuring a high quality of agricultural products. As agricultural activities affect not only the soil and agroecosystem, the protection of other biospheres, the atmosphere and groundwater must also be taken into consideration. Conservative resource practices are required to maintain our
© 2004 American Chemical Society In Agricultural Applications in Green Chemistry; Nelson, W.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2004.
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4 natural resources. The quality of agricultural products is affected by a wide range of production factors and by post-harvest procedures. Agricultural management also affects whether the appearance of landscape and countryside is attractive. Last but not least, our ethical view of nature determines how we evaluate and treat the agricultural milieu.
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Table 1. Areas of concern for sustainableagriculture Protection of agricultural soils Soil erosion and salinization Soil fertility Subsoil compaction Soil pollution Protection of other biospheres, the atmosphere and groundwater Use of pesticides Leaching of plant nutrients Emission of trace gases Conservative resource practices Use of water resources Circulation of plant nutrients Energy use Biological diversity High quality ofagricultural products Nutritiousness Contamination Hygiene Attractive landscape and countryside Appearance of the landscape Appearance of the farm Ethics People Livestock Environment
Fundamental to any discussions of agriculture must be a current discussion of chlorophyll. Hoober and coworkers accomplish such a service in the chapter, "Chlorophylls b and c: Why do plants make them?" This serves not only a present need, but it also alludes to future areas of valuable research in the area of sustainable agriculture.
In Agricultural Applications in Green Chemistry; Nelson, W.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2004.
5 Going further in the understanding of this critical area Tripathy and coworkers discuss "Subplastidic distribution of Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Intermediates and Characterization of Protochlorophyllide Oxidoreductase C".
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Natural product chemistry in agriculture Pest management techniques have evolved over the past 50 years. Inorganic chemical pesticides were replaced by synthetic organic chemicals, and now biopesticides constitute a significant part of pest management technology. Kraus and coworkers give a lucid example of this new approach in the "Management of Soybean Cyst Nematode using a Biorational Strategy." While conventional chemicals will remain as important pest management components, and the processes of combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput bioassays will allow the rapid synthesis and testing of large numbers of candidate compounds. New and equally important tools in pest management, with microbial pesticides and transgenic crops being likely to play important crop protection roles. Isman shows in the chapter "Plant essential oils as green pesticides for pest and disease management." there will be a continuing need for research-based approaches to pest control. His foundational work will be clear example to those who follow. Weeds are known to cause enormous losses due to their interference in agroecosystems. Because of environmental and human health concerns, worldwide efforts are being made to reduce the heavy reliance on synthetic herbicides that are used to control weeds. Current reliance on pesticides also demands that we seek methodologies to properly remediate the lands. Larson and coworkers describe some of their work in this area in "Green Remediation of Herbicides: Studies with Atrazine." As alternatives to existing control agents, a greener methodology is exemplified by the work of Wright and coworkers. In their paper, "Potential of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Biological Control Agents Against the Formosan Subterranean Termite," they give us a provative example.
Environmental Concerns Misuse and incomplete understanding of the environmental fate of many industrial practices involving chemicals has resulted in environmental problems. Agriculture has been identified as the largest nonpoint source of water pollution, but it can also provide methodologies to even prevent pollution. In their contribution, "Agricultural green chemistry: in-process bioremediation of
In Agricultural Applications in Green Chemistry; Nelson, W.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2004.
6 organic waste-containing aqueous solvents," Nelson and coworkers discuss the potential of bioremediation of organic wastes. Green chemistry can also result by watching nature in the way it routinely works. Combie and coworkers have done this extremely well and they clearly describe the results in their contribution, "Adhesive Produced by Microorganisms."
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Outlook In a seminal article that stands out as a clear beacon, Rebeiz and coworkers clearly and confidently point toward the agriculture of the future. Their article, "Chloroplast Bioengineering: Photosynthetic Efficiency, Modulation of the Photosynthetic Unit Size, and the Agriculture of the Future," will be regarded as a truly insightful synthesis of experiment and theory. This is the initial foray into the emergence of green chemistry leading to sustainable agriculture. With the wisdom and insight revealed by the scientists contained in this volume, and assured that the inspiration will continue along the path by attracting more scientists, I believe this is only the beginning of a wonderful and invaluable scientific enterprise.
In Agricultural Applications in Green Chemistry; Nelson, W.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2004.
