Nanotechnology In Agriculture And Food Processing
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & ENGINEERING RESEARCH, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER-20121ISSN 2229-5518Nanotechnology inAgriculture and Food ProcessingMrs. Ketaki S. Pathak, Ms. Pooja S. Mauskar,Mrs. Pratima BhalekarAbstract— This briefing paper discusses the state of the art of nanotechnology R&D and products in food and nutrition. After ashort explanation of what nanotechnology is, present and expected future applications of nanotechnology in agriculture and foodare discussed. The paper then follows a description of how nanotechnology can be used in agriculture and food packaging anddiscusses of applications of nanotechnology in food. At the last some conclusions are derived from the research.Index Terms- Bio-terrorism, Cantilevers, Contamination, Fish oil, Nano-scale, Nano-tubes, and Spoiling—————————— ——————————1. INTRODUCTIONThe current global population is nearly 6 billion with50% living in Asia. A large proportion of those living indeveloping countries face daily food shortages as a result ofenvironmental impacts or political instability, while in thedeveloped world there is a food surplus. For developingcountries the drive is to develop drought and pest resistantcrops, which also maximize yield. In developed countries,the food industry is driven by consumer demand which iscurrently for fresher and healthier foodstuffs.The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionize thehealth care, textile, materials. Information andcommunication technology, and energy sectors has beenwell-publicized. In fact several products enabled bynanotechnology are already in the market, such asantibacterial dressings, transparent sunscreen lotions, stainresistant fabrics, scratch free paints for cars, and selfcleaning windows. The application of nanotechnology tothe agricultural and food industries was first addressed bya United States Department of Agriculture roadmappublished in September 2003.1 The prediction is thatnanotechnology will transform the entire food industry,changing the way food is produced, processed, packaged,transported, and consumed.This short report will review the key aspects of thesetransformations, highlighting current research in theagrifood industry and what future impacts these may have.1.1 What is Nanotechnology?Nanotechnology is the manipulation or self-assembly ofindividual atoms, molecules, or molecular clusters intostructures to create materials and devices with new orvastly different properties. Nanotechnology can work fromthe top down (which means reducing the size of thesmallest structures to the nanoscale e.g. photonicsapplications in nanoelectronics and nanoengineering) or thebottom up (which involves manipulating individual atomsand molecules into nanostructures and more closelyresembles chemistry or biology).The definition ofnanotechnology is based on the prefix ―nano‖ which isfrom the Greek word meaning ―dwarf‖. In more technicalterms, the word ―nano‖ means 10-9, or one billionth ofsomething. For comparison, a virus is roughly 100nanometres (nm) in size. The word nanotechnology isgenerally used when referring to materials with the size of0.1 to 100 nanometres; however it is also inherent that thesematerials should display different properties from bulk (ormicrometric and larger) materials as a result of their size.These differences include physical strength, chemicalreactivity, electrical conductance, magnetism and opticaleffects.1.2 Nanotechnology in the Food MarketNanotechnology has been described as the new industrialrevolution and both developed and developing countriesare investing in this technology to secure a market share. Atpresent the USA leads with a 4 year, 3.7 billion USDinvestments through its National Nanotechnology Initiative(NNI).The USA is followed by Japan and the European Union,which have both committed substantial funds (750 millionand 1.2 billion, including individual country contributions,respectively per year). 2 The level of funding in developingcountries may be comparatively lower, however this hasnot lessened the impact of some countries on the globalstage. For example, China's share of academic publications1Nanoscale science and engineering for agriculture and food systems, Dept.of Agriculture, United States, 2003.2Some Figures about Nanotechnology R&D in Europe and Beyond, EuropeanCommission, December 2005IJSER 2012http://www.ijser.org
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & ENGINEERING RESEARCH, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER-20122ISSN 2229-5518in nanoscale science and engineering topics rose from 7.5%in 1995 to 18.3% in 2004, taking the country from fifth tosecond in the world.3A recent study from the Helmuth Kaiser Consultancypredicts that the nanofood market will surge from 2.6billion USD to 20.4 billion USD by 2010 (see Figure below).4The report suggests that with more than 50% of the worldpopulation, the largest market for Nanofood in 2010 will beAsia lead by China.More than 400 companies around the world today areactive in nanotechnology research and development (R&D)and this number is expected to increase to more than 1000within the next 10 years. More than 400 companies aroundthe world today are active in nanotechnology research anddevelopment (R&D) and this number is expected toincrease to more than 1000 within the next 10 years. Interms of numbers, the USA leads, followed by Japan,China, and the EU. An estimate by the BusinessCommunications Company, a technical market researchand industry analysis company shows that, the market forthe nanotechnology was 7.6 billion USD in 2003 and isexpected to be 1 trillion USD in 2011.5 However, the fullpotential of nanotechnology in the agricultural and foodindustry has still not been realised.2. Nanotechnology in AgricultureNanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize theagricultural and food industry with new tools for themolecular treatment of diseases, rapid disease detection,enhancing the ability of plants to absorb nutrients etc.Smart sensors and smart delivery systems will help theagricultural industry combat viruses and other croppathogens. In the near future nanostructured catalysts willbe available which will increase the efficiency of pesticidesand herbicides, allowing lower doses to be used.Nanotechnology will also protect the environmentindirectly through the use of alternative (renewable) energy32.1 Precision FarmingPrecision farming has been a long-desired goal to maximiseoutput (i.e. crop yields) while minimising input (i.e.fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, etc) through monitoringenvironmental variables and applying targeted action.Precision farming makes use of computers, global satellitepositioning systems, and remote sensing devices tomeasurehighly localised environmental conditions thusdetermining whether crops are growing at maximumefficiency or precisely identifying the nature and location ofproblems. By using centralised data to determine soilconditions and plant development, seeding, fertilizer,chemical and water use can be fine-tuned to lowerproduction costs and potentially increase production- allbenefiting the farmer. 7 Precision farming can also help toreduce agricultural waste and thus keep environmentalpollution to a minimum. Although not fully implementedyet, tiny sensors and monitoring systems enabled bynanotechnology will have a large impact on futureprecision farming methodologies. One of the major roles fornanotechnology-enabled devices will be the increased useof autonomous sensors linked into a GPS system for realtime monitoring. These nanosensors could be distributedthroughout the field where they can monitor soil conditionsand crop growth. Wireless sensors are already being usedin certain parts of the USA and Australia. For example, oneof the Californian vineyards, Pickberry, in Sonoma Countyhas installed wifi systems with the help of the IT company,6Ranking the Nations: Nanotech's Shifting Global Leaders, Lux Research IncHelmuth Kaiser Consultancy, Nanotechnology in Food and Food ProcessingIndustry Worldwide, 20045Business Communications Company, Inc., Global Nanotechnology marketto reach 29billion by 20084supplies, and filters or catalysts to reduce pollution andclean-up existing pollutants. An agricultural methodologywidely used in the USA, Europe and Japan, whichefficiently utilises modern technology for cropmanagement, is called Controlled Environment Agriculture(CEA). CEA is an advanced and intensive form ofhydroponically-based agriculture. Plants are grown withina controlled environment so that horticultural practices canbe optimized. The computerized system monitors andregulates localised environments such as fields of crops.CEA technology, as it exists today, provides an excellentplatform for the introduction of nanotechnology toagriculture. With many of the monitoring and controlsystems already in place, nanotechnological devices forCEA that provide ―scouting‖ capabilities couldtremendously improve the grower’s ability to determinethe best time of harvest for the crop, the vitality of the crop,and food security issues, such as microbial or chemicalcontamination.6The US Department of Agriculture, Nanoscale science and engineering forAgriculture and food systems7Precision Agriculture: Changing the Face of Farming, Doug Rickman, J.C.Luvall, Joey Shaw, Paul Mask, DavidKissel and Dana SullivanIJSER 2012http://www.ijser.org
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & ENGINEERING RESEARCH, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER-20123ISSN 2229-5518Accenture.8 The initial cost of setting up such a system isjustified by the fact that it enables the best grapes to begrown which in turn produce finer wines, which commanda premium price. The use of such wireless networks is ofcourse not restricted to vineyards, for example ForbesMagazine has reported that small nanosensors are beingused by Honeywell (a technology R&D company withglobal branches) to monitor grocery stores in Minnesota.9This technology enables shop keepers to identify food itemswhich have passed their expiry date and also reminds themto issue a new purchase order. The global market forwireless sensors is predicted to be 7 billion USD by 2010.10The union of biotechnology and nanotechnology in sensorswill create equipment of increased sensitivity, allowing anearlier response to environmental changes. For example: Nanosensors utilising carbon nanotubes11 or nanocantilevers12 are small enough to trap and measureindividual proteins or even small molecules. Nanoparticles or nanosurfaces can be engineered totrigger an electrical or chemical signal in the presence of acontaminant such as bacteria. Other nanosensors work by triggering an enzymaticreaction or by using nanoengineered branching moleculescalled dendrimers as probes to bind to target chemicals andproteins.13Ultimately, precision farming, with the help of smartsensors, will allow enhanced productivity in agriculture byproviding accurate information, thus helping farmers tomake better decisions.2.2 Smart Delivery SystemsThe union of biotechnology and nanotechnology in sensorswill create equipment of increased sensitivity, allowing anearlier response to environmental changes. For example: Nanosensors utilising carbon nanotubes or nanocantilevers are small enough to trap and measureindividual proteins or even small molecules. Nanoparticles or nanosurfaces can be engineered totrigger an electrical or chemical signal in the presence of acontaminant such as bacteria.8Virtual Vineyard, Gregory J. Millman, utlook/3 2004/pdf/case sensor.pdf9Quentin Hardy, Sensing opportunity, Forbes Magazine, 200310ONWorld Press Release, Wireless sensor networks: A mass marketopportunity11Carbon nanotubes are rolled sheets of graphite that are hollow and a few nmin diameter, but can be severalmicrometres (or more) long.12Cantilevers are micro-scaled structures that can be modified to bind specificchemicals. Binding causes thecantilever to bend (much like a diving board), and this movement is detectedoptically or electronically.13Down on the farm, ETC group, 2004:http://www.etcgroup.org/documents/ETC DOTFarm2004.pdf Other nanosensors work by triggering an enzymaticreaction or by using nanoengineered branching moleculescalled dendrimers as probes to bind to target chemicalsand proteins.14Ultimately, precision farming, with the help of smartsensors, will allow enhanced productivity in agriculture byproviding accurate information, thus helping farmers tomake better decisions.Technologies such as encapsulation and controlled releasemethods, have revolutionised the use of pesticides andherbicides. Many companies make formulations whichcontain nanoparticles within the 100-250 nm size range thatare able to dissolve in water more effectively than existingones (thus increasing their activity). Other oemulsions), which can be either water or oil-basedand contain uniform suspensions of pesticidal or herbicidalnanoparticles in the range of 200- 400 nm. These can beeasily incorporated in various media such as gels, creams,liquids etc, and have multiple applications for preventativemeasures, treatment or preservation of the harvestedproduct.One of the world’s largest agrochemical corporations,Syngenta, is using nanoemulsions in its pesticide products.One of its successful growth regulating products is thePrimo MAXX plant growth regulator, which if appliedprior to the onset of stress such as heat, drought, disease ortraffic can strengthen the physical structure of turfgrass,and allow it to withstand ongoing stresses throughout thegrowing season.14 Another encapsulated product fromSyngenta delivers a broad control spectrum on primary andsecondary insect pests of cotton, rice, peanuts andsoybeans. Marketed under the name Karate ZEON this isa quick release microencapsulated product containing theactive compound lambda-cyhalothrin (a syntheticinsecticide based on the structure of natural pyrethrins)which breaks open on contact with leaves.15 In contrast, theencapsulated product ―gutbuster‖ only breaks open torelease its contents when it comes into contact with alkalineenvironments, such as the stomach of certain insects.16In other areas, scientists are working on varioustechnologies to make fertiliser and pesticide deliverysystems which can respond to environmental changes. Theultimate aim is to tailor these products in such a way thatthey will release their cargo in a controlled manner (slowlyor quickly) in response to different signals e.g. magneticfields, heat, ultrasound, moisture, etc. New research alsoaims to make plants use water, pesticides and fertilizersmore efficiently, to reduce pollution and to makeagriculture more environmentally friendly. -us.com/prod/insecticide/Karate/16Syngenta’s US Patent No. 6,544,540: Base-Triggered Release Microcapsul15IJSER 2012http://www.ijser.org
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & ENGINEERING RESEARCH, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER-20124ISSN 2229-5518companies are forming alliances with major players such asLG, BASF, Honeywell, Bayer, Mitsubishi, and DuPont tomake complete plant health monitoring systems in the next10 years using nanotechnologies.this product to benefit commercial fish ponds which spendhuge amounts of money to remove algae.203. Nanotechnology in the Food Industry2.3 Other Developments in the AgriculturalSector due to NanotechnologyAgriculture is the backbone of most developing countries,with more than 60% of the population reliant on it for theirlivelihood. As well as developing improved systems formonitoring environmental conditions and deliveringnutrients or pesticides as appropriate, nanotechnology canimprove our understanding of the biology of differentcrops and thus potentially enhance yields or nutritionalvalues. In addition, it can offer routes to added value cropsor environmental remediation.Particle farming is one such example, which yieldsnanoparticles for industrial use by growing plants indefined soils. For example, research has shown that alfalfaplants grown in gold rich soil absorb gold nanoparticlesthrough their roots and accumulate these in their tissues.The gold nanoparticles can be mechanically separated fromthe plant tissue following harvest.17Nanotechnology can also be used to clean ground water.The US Company Argonide is using 2 nm diameteraluminium oxide nanofibres (NanoCeram) as a waterpurifier. Filters made from these fibres can remove viruses,bacteria and protozoan cysts from water.18 Similar projectsare taking place elsewhere, particularly in developingcountries such as India and South Africa. The Germanchemical group BASF’s future business fund has devoted asignificant proportion of its 105 million USDnanotechnology research fund to water purificationtechniques. The French utility company Generalees Eauxhas also developed its own Nanofiltration technology incollaboration with the Dow Chemical subsidiary Filmtec.Ondeo, the water unit of French conglomerate Suez, hasmeanwhile installed what it calls an ultrafiltration system,with holes of 0.1 microns in size, in one of its plants outsideParis.19While some companies are working on water filtration,others such as Altairnano are following a purificationapproach. Altairnano’s Nanocheck contains lanthanumnanoparticles that absorb phosphates from aqueousenvironments. Applying these in ponds and swimmingpools effectively removes available phosphates and as aresult prevents the growth of algae. The company expectsThe impact of nanotechnology in the food industry hasbecome more apparent over the last few years with theorganization of various conferences dedicated to the topic,initiation of consortia for better and safe food, along withincreased coverage in the media. Several companies whichwere hesitant about revealing their research programmes innanofood, have now gone public announcing plans toimprove existing products and develop new ones tomaintain market dominance. The types of applicationinclude: smart packaging, on demand preservatives, andinteractive foods. Building on the concept of ―on-demand‖food, the idea of interactive food is to allow consumers tomodify food depending on their own nutritional needs ortastes. The concept is that thousands of nanocapsulescontaining flavour or colour enhancers or added nutritionalelements (such as vitamins), would remain dormant in thefood and only be released when triggered by theconsumer.21 Most of the food giants including Nestle, Kraft,Heinz, and Unilever support specific research programmesto capture a share of the nanofood market in the nextdecade. The definition of nanofood is that nanotechnologytechniques or tools are used during cultivation, production,processing, or packaging of the food. It does not meanatomicallymodified food or food produced bynanomachines. Although there are ambitious thoughts ofcreating molecular food using nanomachines, this hnologists are more optimistic about the potentialto change the existing system of food processing and toensure the safety of food products, creating a healthy foodculture. They are also hopeful of enhancing the nutritionalquality of food through selected additives andimprovements to the way the body digests and absorbsfood. Although some of these goals are further away, hnology in products.3.1 Packaging and Food SafetyDeveloping smart packaging to optimise product shelf-lifehas been the goal of many companies. Such packaging17201821Liz Kalaugher, Alfalfa plants harvest gold Nanoparticles, 4/719Small times,http://www.smalltimes.com/document display.cfm?document id 6959Altairnano, http://www.altairnano.com/applications.htmlJohn Dunn, “A Mini Revolution,” Food Manufacture, September 1, 2004.http://www.foodmanufacture.co.u
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