Fipronil in Agroecosystems: Impacts on Crop–Pest Dynamics and Sustainable Water Treatment through Biochar Regeneration

The increasing reliance on treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation introduces emerging contaminants such as fipronil into agroecosystems. This extended abstract synthesizes findings from two recent studies: one investigating the effects of fipronil-contaminated irrigation on zucchini plants and their primary pest, Aphis gossypii, and another exploring the use of forest-residue-derived biochar for the adsorption and regeneration of fipronil and other pollutants from water. Together, these studies highlight the dual challenge of mitigating environmental contamination while maintaining agricultural productivity and pest control efficacy.