- \n
- precision farming techniques<\/li>\n
- smart feed<\/li>\n
- enhancement of food texture and quality<\/li>\n
- bioavailability\/nutrient values<\/li>\n
- packaging<\/li>\n
- labeling<\/li>\n
- crop production<\/li>\n
- use of agrochemicals such as nano-pesticide<\/li>\n
- nano-fertilizers<\/li>\n
- nano-herbicide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As well, nanofood packaging resources may widen nourishment life, upgrade food safety, inform customers that food is sullied or destroyed, repair tears in packaging, and uniformly release added substances to extend the life of the food in the package (Thiruvengadam et a<\/em>l., 2018).<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n \n Remember<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n Nano and food innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n Food innovation is observed as one of the sector areas in which nanotechnology will play a major part in the future<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/supermarket-shelf-g03cbb6fa7_1920-768x683.png\")
<\/p>\nTo maintain leadership in food and food-processing industry, one will have to work with nanotechnology in the future. Improving the safety and quality of food will be the first step. \u00a0Engineered nanotech compounds could offer great benefits in ingredients as well as in food packaging \u2014\u00a0with antimicrobial surfaces and sensors that change color when food begins to degrade (Thiruvengadam et a<\/em>l., 2018).<\/p>\n
Some people might be worried about nano in their food, but nanoscale compounds already exist naturally in milk and are responsible for its fat stability. Moreover, nano is already widely used in the food packaging sector to help ensure food quality and safety. Nanotech-based sensors can detect and measure the presence of oxygen or bacteria, such as listeria (MacDonald, 2017).<\/p>\n
\u201cNanotechnology enables to change the existing food systems and processing to ensure products safety, creating a healthy food culture, and enhancing the nutritional quality of food\u201d (Thiruvengadam et a<\/em>l., 2018).<\/p>\n
Regarding agriculture, nanoparticles are already used in the field (no pun intended) to enhance production. For instance, polymeric nanoparticles are used in the delivery of agrochemicals in a slow and controlled manner. Some of the advantages of polymeric nanoparticles are their superior biocompatibility and minimal impact on non-targeted organisms (Bose, 2021).<\/p>\n
As well, silver nanoparticles are extensively used for their antimicrobial property against a wide range of phytopathogens (an organism that causes disease in plants). Scientists have also reported that silver nanoparticles enhance plant growth. \u00a0Many chemical companies also use nano alumino-silicate formulations as an efficient pesticide. Meanwhile, titanium dioxide nanoparticles are biocompatible and are used as a disinfecting agent for water. On the other hand, carbon nanoparticles such as graphene, graphene oxide, carbon dots, and fullerenes, are used for improved seed germination (Bose, 2021).<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n \n Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n Phytopathogen<\/strong><\/p>\n An organism that causes disease in plants.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
The application of nanoherbicides and nanopesticides for the management of weed and pests have significantly increased crop productivity. Huge agricultural losses are incurred annually owing to microbial (virus, fungus, and bacteria) infections. Nanomaterials with specific antimicrobial properties can help prevent those microbial infestations. Several nanoparticles such as nickel ferrite nanoparticles and copper nanoparticles, have a strong antifungal property and are effectively used in disease management (Bose, 2021).<\/p>\n
Nanotechnology was also used to design a smart delivery system that would release nutrients in a slow and controlled manner to the targeted site to tackle nutrient deficiency in plants. Nanofertilizers increase crop productivity by enhancing the availability of essential nutrients to the plant. A significant increase in the yields of millet and cluster beans was found after the application of nanophosphorus fertilizers in arid conditions. Chitosan nanoparticles suspensions containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium have also increased crop production (Bose, 2021).<\/p>\n
As well, carbon nanotubes can enter the hard seed coat of tomatoes and significantly improve the germination index and plant growth. Similarly, the germination percentage increased when soybean and corn seeds were sprayed with\u00a0 multiwall carbon nanotubes. Various nano treatments are available to enhance the germination index of plants. (Bose, 2021).<\/p>\n
Finally, nanobiosensors are highly sensitive and specific when compared to conventional biosensors. These devices convert biological responses to electrical responses via a microprocessor. Nanobiosensors offer a real-time signal monitoring and are involved in direct or indirect detection of pathogenic microorganisms, antibiotic resistance, pesticides, toxin, and heavy metal contaminants. This technology is also used to monitor crop stress, soil health, plant growth, nutrient content, and food quality (Bose, 2021).<\/p>\n
However, this is only the beginning of nano in agriculture. We expect that in the future nanotechnology will help us with:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Controlled green synthesis of nanoparticles<\/li>\n
- Understanding of nanoparticles produced by root endophytes and mycorrhizal fungi, which play an important role in plant productivity and disease management<\/li>\n
- Interaction of nanoparticles with plant system such as transport mechanism of nanoparticles inside plant body<\/li>\n
- Critical evaluation of the negative side effects of nanoparticles on different environmental conditions<\/li>\n
- Development of portable and user-friendly nanobiosensors for rapid analysis of soil, plants, water, and pesticides<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\n
\n \n Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n Green synthesis<\/strong><\/p>\n Green synthesis method involves the development of nontoxic and biocompatible safe nanoparticle production at low cost and with prospective wide-ranging applications in different sectors.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
As the global population is increasing and we are facing climate change as well higher demands of energy and water, there will be more stress on food production and distribution.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/man-ge77f8c0bd_1920-768x510.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNanomaterials and nanotechnology could play an important role in the future of agriculture, especially in the production of crops. \u201cNano-enabled agriculture is still in its infancy but it is an exciting and challenging area that will develop fast in the near future\u201d (Pulizzi, 2019).<\/p>\n
Thus, nanotechnology will help us feed more people more quickly and more efficiently as well bringing innovation in the packaging of our food.<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n \n Important<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n The future of agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n Nanomaterials and nanotechnology could play an important role in the future of agriculture, especially in the production of crops which will increase food production.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vibebp_attr":"","_vibebp_dimensions":"","_vibebp_responsive_height":"","_vibebp_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"module-tag":[],"class_list":["post-1401","unit","type-unit","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/1401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/unit"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1401"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/1401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1416,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/1401\/revisions\/1416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"module-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module-tag?post=1401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}