environment and in the remediation of land and recovery of its use value (Fig. 1.1)
(Sekhon 2014; Liu and Lal 2015; Guerra et al. 2018).
Nanotechnology is currently becoming increasingly popular in agriculture and
protection of the environment. In the USA, the government is spending over 1 bn
dollars a year on development in this field. The EU, Japan, China, and India are also
strongly involved in its development (Miller and Senjen 2008). The use of nanotechnology in studies related to agriculture and remediation is a new and very
popular trend worldwide (Ghormade et al. 2011; Khot et al. 2012; Liu and Lal
2015; Guerra et al. 2018).
1.2
What Is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is a science and technology related to the nanoscale. According to
the US National Nanotechnology Initiative’s definition, “Nanotechnology is science,
engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1–100 nm.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small
things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology,
physics, materials science, and engineering” (https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/
what/definition).
The definitions proposed by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of
Engineering in the UK avoid any mention of dimensions at all: Nanoscience is the
study of phenomena and manipulation of materials at atomic, molecular, and
macromolecular scales, where properties differ significantly from those at a larger
scale and Nanotechnologies are the design, characterization, production, and
Fig. 1.1 Flow diagram
showing relationships and
flows between
nanotechnology and
agriculture, the food industry,
and remediation
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
3
(Sekhon 2014; Liu and Lal 2015; Guerra et al. 2018).
Nanotechnology is currently becoming increasingly popular in agriculture and
protection of the environment. In the USA, the government is spending over 1 bn
dollars a year on development in this field. The EU, Japan, China, and India are also
strongly involved in its development (Miller and Senjen 2008). The use of nanotechnology in studies related to agriculture and remediation is a new and very
popular trend worldwide (Ghormade et al. 2011; Khot et al. 2012; Liu and Lal
2015; Guerra et al. 2018).
1.2
What Is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is a science and technology related to the nanoscale. According to
the US National Nanotechnology Initiative’s definition, “Nanotechnology is science,
engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1–100 nm.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small
things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology,
physics, materials science, and engineering” (https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/
what/definition).
The definitions proposed by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of
Engineering in the UK avoid any mention of dimensions at all: Nanoscience is the
study of phenomena and manipulation of materials at atomic, molecular, and
macromolecular scales, where properties differ significantly from those at a larger
scale and Nanotechnologies are the design, characterization, production, and
Fig. 1.1 Flow diagram
showing relationships and
flows between
nanotechnology and
agriculture, the food industry,
and remediation
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
3