In recent years, peptide aptamers have emerged as novel molecular tools that 
have attracted the attention of researchers in various fields of basic and 
applied science, ranging from medicine to analytical chemistry. These artificial 
short peptides are able to specifically bind, track, and inhibit a given target 
molecule with high affinity, even molecules with poor immunogenicity or high 
toxicity, and represent a remarkable alternative to antibodies in many different 
applications. Their use is on the rise, driven mainly by the medical and 
pharmaceutical sector. Here we discuss the enormous potential of peptide 
aptamers in both basic and applied aspects of plant biotechnology and food 
safety. The different peptide aptamer selection methods available both in vivo 
and in vitro are introduced, and the most important possible applications in 
plant biotechnology are illustrated. In particular, we discuss the generation of 
broad-based virus resistance in crops, "reverse genetics" and aptasensors in 
bioassays for detecting contaminations in food and feed. Furthermore, we suggest 
an alternative to the transfer of peptide aptamers into plant cells via genetic 
transformation, based on the use of cell-penetrating peptides that overcome the 
limits imposed by both crop transformation and Genetically Modified Organism 
commercialization.