Safeguarding Agriculture in a High-Ozone World: Sustainable Strategies for Crop Protection

Rising tropospheric ozone (O₃) levels—driven largely by intensified industrialization and human activities since the Industrial Revolution—have become a pressing global concern. As a potent phytotoxic pollutant, ozone disrupts photosynthesis, triggers oxidative stress, and contributes significantly to yield declines in essential food crops like wheat and rice. Alarmingly, many major agricultural belts now coincide with ozone pollution hotspots, heightening threats to global food security.

Motivated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate hunger and advance sustainable agriculture by 2030, this work explores science-based and eco-friendly interventions capable of enhancing crop resilience under escalating ozone stress. The study evaluates a suite of mitigation strategies, including soil amendments, biochar enrichment, seed inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and antioxidant-rich plant extracts. The chemical protectant ethylenediurea (EDU), known for its strong protective effects against ozone injury, is also examined. Furthermore, adaptive agronomic modifications such as adjusting sowing time, improving irrigation practices, enforcing stricter emission controls on ozone precursors, and developing ozone-tolerant cultivars are critically reviewed.

By bridging the divide between controlled experimental insights and practical field-level applicability, this study highlights the need for integrated, sustainable, and scalable approaches. The findings underscore the potential of combining biological, agronomic, and policy-driven solutions to safeguard crop productivity and strengthen agricultural resilience in an era of increasing atmospheric stress.