# AgroDrug Conjugates for Sustainable Crop Protection: Molecular Architectures, Mechanisms, and Critical Perspectives

## TL;DR

This review explores AgroDrug conjugates as a sustainable solution for crop protection by improving agrodrug efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

## Contribution

The paper provides a critical analysis of AgDC molecular designs and mechanisms, highlighting design challenges and opportunities for sustainable agriculture.

## Key findings

- AgDCs improve agrodrug bioavailability and systemic distribution in plants.
- Current AgDC designs face challenges in metabolic stability and ecological safety.
- Addressing knowledge gaps is crucial for advancing AgDCs as next-gen crop protection tools.

## Abstract

The agriculture sector faces significant challenges from weeds and pests, exacerbated by climate change. Traditional control methods have led to the emergence of difficult to manage resistant populations, threatening global food security. AgroDrug conjugates (AgDCs) offer a promising approach to enhance agrodrug bioavailability and systemic distribution within plant tissues. This can be accomplished by attaching agrodrugs to molecular carriers such as sugars or amino acids. AgDCs aim to improve targeting and efficiency, while reducing the environmental impact. This review seeks to deliver a thorough and critical analysis of the chemical architectures and underlying mechanisms of action of AgDCs as documented in current scientific literature. Moreover, we highlight advances and knowledge gaps in AgDC design, including metabolic stability, ecological safety, and field-scale performance. Addressing these challenges will be essential to unlock the full potential of AgDCs as next-generation tools for sustainable and resilient crop protection.