**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AGROCHEMICALS IMPORTANT FOR CROP MANAGEMENT ARE NORMALLY DELIVERED TO CROPS BY SPRAYING OR BROADCASTING. HOWEVER, IT IS KNOWN THAT ONLY A VERY LOW PORTION OF THE APPLIED CHEMICALS REACHES CROP TARGET SITES DUE TO LEACHING AND DEGRADATION. NANO-SIZED MATERIALS CALLED NANOMATERIALS HAVE SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR OVERCOMING THESE INEFFICIENCIES AND IMPROVING CROP MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES. ALSO, NANOMATERIALS CAN BE USED AS EFFICIENT CARRIERS FOR THE DELIVERY OF GENETIC MATERIAL TO PLANTS AND THE CREATION OF HIGH-PRODUCTIVE GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS. CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS ARE NANOMATERIALS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BECOME COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND MAY OFFER A GREEN ALTERNATIVE TO MAN-MADE NANOMATERIALS USED FOR THE REGULATION OF PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. SPECIFICALLY, NANOCELLULOSE CRYSTALS (CNC) HAVE GREAT ADVANTAGES INCLUDING THEIR VERY SMALL SIZE, PERFECT BIOCOMPATIBILITY WITH PLANTS, VERY LOW TOXICITY, AND EXCELLENT BIODEGRADABILITY. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTAL (CNC) AS AN EFFICIENT AND SAFE DELIVERY PLATFORM FOR TRANSPORTING CHEMICALS AND BIOMOLECULES TO PLANTS AND PLANT CELLS. THIS RESEARCH WILL INVESTIGATE WHETHER CNC CAN EFFICIENTLY OVERCOME PLANT CELL WALLS AND DELIVER NUCLEIC ACIDS AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS TO PLANT CELLS. THIS PROJECT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AREA OF GREEN NANOSCIENCE, A DISCIPLINE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE METHODS AND APPROACHES OF BOTH GREEN CHEMISTRY AND NANOSCIENCE TO DEVELOP GREEN PRODUCTS, PROCESSES, AND APPLICATIONS. IF THIS RESEARCH IS SUCCESSFUL IT COULD ENABLE MORE EFFICIENT AGRICULTURAL METHODS THAT HAVE FEWER ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.