Farmers rely on pesticides to keep their crops safe from pests, diseases, and weeds. However, if pesticides are not used properly, they can have serious consequences for human and environmental health. Many pesticides are not easily biodegradable and persist in the environment for a long time. Their residues, including toxic metabolites, pose risks to non-target organisms, contaminate surface- and groundwater sources, and may affect future crops. Among other soil remediation actions, it is important to highlight the impact of agricultural waste and agro-industrial byproducts on the behavior of pesticides as a strategy to eliminate or at least minimize soil pollution by their residues. Waste from various food industries and agriculture poses a severe threat to the ecosystem and is difficult to manage properly. Agriculture and food production waste accounts for over 30% of total global agricultural output. Therefore, managing agri-food waste from different sources is crucial to promoting sustainable development with minimal environmental impact. Key components of waste management interventions in the agricultural circular and bioeconomy include incorporating crop residues and food waste into soils. For these reasons, we present an updated review of the impact of agricultural waste and agro-industrial byproducts on the behavior of pesticides in soil. The goal of this review is to promote the sustainable use of these wastes within the context of a circular economy.
Pérez-Lucas et al. (2026) studied this question.