This volume brings together evidence-based research on carbon dots (CDs). It begins by explaining the fundamentals of CDs, their unique properties and diverse synthesis methods (including hydrothermal, microwave and green routes). Building on these fundamentals, it further delves into eco-friendly synthesis approaches that repurpose agricultural and food waste, underscoring CDs’ sustainability, cost-effectiveness and biocompatibility. Other key aspects covered in the book include how CDs function as nano-sensors to detect contaminants (pesticide residues, heavy metals, pathogens) in food, and as antimicrobial agents and fluorescence-based indicators to extend shelf life through smart packaging. The book includes case studies to demonstrate the practical applications of CDs in hydroponics, aquaponics and floriculture, highlighting both productivity gains and environmental benefits. Lastly, it addresses CDs' applications in environmental remediation, CD-based photocatalysis and adsorption techniques for removing heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens from soil and wastewater.

This volume offers a holistic roadmap to harness carbon dot technologies and is a valuable read for researchers, industry professionals and policymakers working in this field.

Dr. Silvy Mathew is currently working as an Assistant Professor & Research Guide in the Department of Botany, Vimala College (Autonomous), Kerala, Affiliated to the University of Calicut, India. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, and earned MPhil and her Ph.D. from Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India. Her research interests encompass quantum carbon dots, bioengineered cancer inhibitor formulations derived from indigenous plant metabolites, COX-2/5-LOX anti-inflammatory effects of alkaloid-enriched fractions from fruits, and plant-based nanoparticle synthesis. She has contributed 32 DNA sequences to GenBank and has published over 28 research papers in international journals, along with 12 books and 10 book chapters. She has completed eight major and minor projects funded by DST, DBT, and KSCSTE. holds three published patents titled as A vision-Language Model Based Explainable Artificial Intelligence System for Retinal Disease Risk Interpretation, AI-Driven IoT System for Real-Time Disaster Prediction and Autonomous Emergency Response and  Innovative Robotic System for AI-Driven Vertical Harvesting and Crop Health Management.

Professor Kadambot H.M Siddique   is an agricultural scientist with over 35 years of experience in research and teaching. As the Hackett Professor and Director of the UWA Institute of Agriculture, he has significantly contributed to dryland agriculture, particularly in crop physiology, agronomy and breeding. His work has led to the development and commercial release of multiple chickpea, lentil and Lathyrus cultivars. His research focuses on crop adaptation to water deficits and abiotic stresses, contributing to improved cereal and grain legume production in challenging environments. He has authored over 1,000 scientific publications and is well-recognized as a highly cited researcher in agricultural sciences from 2019 to 2023.