Nano urea and public health: why India must proceed with caution

India’s agricultural transformation has long been driven by technological shifts—from the Green Revolution’s high-yielding varieties to the widespread use of synthetic fertilisers. Today, nano urea is being positioned as the next leap: a precision input that promises higher efficiency, lower environmental damage, and reduced dependence on conventional fertilisers. Backed by policy support and fast-tracked approvals, its rollout has been rapid and ambitious.

Yet a critical question remains insufficiently examined: are we scaling nano urea faster than we are understanding its long-term implications for public health and environmental safety?