Globally, many countries have identified the potential of nanotechnology in the agrifood sector and are investing a significant amount in it. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set out ambitious plans to be achieved in the short, medium and long term, and aims to discover novel phenomena, processes and tools to address challenges faced by the agricultural sector. Equal importance has been given to the societal issues associated with nanotechnology and to improve public awareness. The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has commissioned studies to assess new and potential applications of nanotechnology in food, especially on packaging. At the same time more money has been given by other Government departments towards research and development which includes the development of functional food, nutrient delivery systems and methods for optimizing food appearance, such as colour, flavour and consistency.
This R&D is not just restricted to developed countries. Developing countries such as Iran have adopted their own nanotechnology programmes with a specific focus on agricultural applications. The Iranian Agricultural ministry is supporting a consortium of 35 laboratories working on a project to expand the use of nanotechnology in agro sector.46 The ministry is also planning to hold training programs to develop specialized human resources in the field. They have already produced their first commercial nanotechnology product Nanocid, a powerful antibacterial product which has potential applications in the food industry. The product has also widespread applications in the production of various kinds of detergents, paints, ceramics, air conditioning systems, vacuum cleaners, home appliances, shoes and garments. India has allocated 22.6 million USD in its 2006 budget to the Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, in acknowledgement of its pioneering contribution to the Green Revolution. Its research on high-yielding crop varieties helped boost food production in the 1960s and new projects include the development of new tools and techniques for the agriculture industry.
Whatever the impacts of nanotechnology on the food industry and products entering the market, the safety of food will remain the prime concern. This need will strengthen the adoption of nanotechnology in sensing applications, which will ensure food safety and security, as well as technology which alerts customers and shopkeepers when a food is nearing the end of its shelf-life. New antimicrobial coatings and dirt repellent plastic bags are a remarkable improvement in ensuring the safety and security of packaged food. However, there is concern over the use of nanoparticles in food and its manipulation using nanotechnologies, which has the potential to elicit the same issues raised in the GM debate.
In this context, a recent report from the Institute of Food Science and Technology in the UK, argues that more safety data is required before nanoparticles can be included in food. The report points out that current legislation does not force companies to label food items containing nanoparticles; and so consumers are unlikely to be aware of such applications in food items. It calls for an appropriate pre market safety evaluation focusing on the effects of particle size as well as composition.
The ETC group has gone further and has called for a moratorium on nanotechnology for agrifood.14 It has also accused major companies and high tech universities of seeking patents on new food items which may shut out innovative companies in less developed countries.
Finally, it may be possible one day to manufacture food from component atoms and molecules, so-called “Molecular Food Manufacturing”. Already some research groups are exploring this, but still from a top-down approach, using cells rather than molecules. Although the practical application of such technology is far into the future, it is expected that this could allow a more efficient and sustainable food production process to be developed where less raw materials are consumed and food of a higher nutritional quality is obtained.
This R&D is not just restricted to developed countries. Developing countries such as Iran have adopted their own nanotechnology programmes with a specific focus on agricultural applications. The Iranian Agricultural ministry is supporting a consortium of 35 laboratories working on a project to expand the use of nanotechnology in agro sector.46 The ministry is also planning to hold training programs to develop specialized human resources in the field. They have already produced their first commercial nanotechnology product Nanocid, a powerful antibacterial product which has potential applications in the food industry. The product has also widespread applications in the production of various kinds of detergents, paints, ceramics, air conditioning systems, vacuum cleaners, home appliances, shoes and garments. India has allocated 22.6 million USD in its 2006 budget to the Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, in acknowledgement of its pioneering contribution to the Green Revolution. Its research on high-yielding crop varieties helped boost food production in the 1960s and new projects include the development of new tools and techniques for the agriculture industry.
Whatever the impacts of nanotechnology on the food industry and products entering the market, the safety of food will remain the prime concern. This need will strengthen the adoption of nanotechnology in sensing applications, which will ensure food safety and security, as well as technology which alerts customers and shopkeepers when a food is nearing the end of its shelf-life. New antimicrobial coatings and dirt repellent plastic bags are a remarkable improvement in ensuring the safety and security of packaged food. However, there is concern over the use of nanoparticles in food and its manipulation using nanotechnologies, which has the potential to elicit the same issues raised in the GM debate.
In this context, a recent report from the Institute of Food Science and Technology in the UK, argues that more safety data is required before nanoparticles can be included in food. The report points out that current legislation does not force companies to label food items containing nanoparticles; and so consumers are unlikely to be aware of such applications in food items. It calls for an appropriate pre market safety evaluation focusing on the effects of particle size as well as composition.
The ETC group has gone further and has called for a moratorium on nanotechnology for agrifood.14 It has also accused major companies and high tech universities of seeking patents on new food items which may shut out innovative companies in less developed countries.
Finally, it may be possible one day to manufacture food from component atoms and molecules, so-called “Molecular Food Manufacturing”. Already some research groups are exploring this, but still from a top-down approach, using cells rather than molecules. Although the practical application of such technology is far into the future, it is expected that this could allow a more efficient and sustainable food production process to be developed where less raw materials are consumed and food of a higher nutritional quality is obtained.
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