definition – greater than 60 m
2
Ácm
À3 ), which becomes greater as the particle size
becomes smaller. This has an effect on the reactivity, toughness, and adsorption
properties of nanomaterials and antimicrobial activity. Among nanomaterials,
nanoparticles (NPs) of metals are particularly noteworthy – forming a group which
has already been commercialized on numerous occasions in many fields, including
in medicine, agriculture, the automotive sector, electronics, dentistry, the construction industry, and photography (Bandyopadhyay et al. 2013; Jeevanandam et al.
2018; Thangadurai et al. 2020a, b). The number of patent applications filed in the
nanotechnology sector has risen around tenfold over the last two decades, which is
indicative of the very major potential of nanomaterials in commercial products
(Dang et al. 2010; Kim et al. 2018).
Nanotechnology is something that we consider to be a technology of the future,
but we already know that in some areas it will lead to breakthroughs, while in others
it will not prove to be any use (Kim et al. 2018). Nanotechnology is inspiring many
people to come up with futuristic visions, which are widely covered in the mass
media, but these visions are not always confirmed by the results of scientific studies.
The information that commercial companies which manufacture products involving
different nanomaterials provide on the subject is often incomplete. This means that it
is difficult to estimate the actual significance of the nanotechnologies deployed in
products currently on the market. The excitement surrounding nanotechnology
shows no sign of relenting, but there has now been a breakthrough regarding the
uncritical assessment of its significance and safety. More care is starting to be taken
in this area. Gross et al. (2018) estimated that every new technology needs at least
20 years to be effectively and safely commercialized. A situation cannot be allowed
to occur, where materials and products which have not been thoroughly tested and
described find their way onto the market, as the consequences of such an oversight
could be very dangerous in many ways. Everyone still remembers the example of
asbestos – which was quickly and widely commercialized – and the problems which
had to be dealt with later as a result.
1.3
Nanotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Industry
Nanotechnology has the potential to transform agriculture and food production, and
the leading examples in this field are innovative tools for the rapid diagnosis of pests,
mycotoxins, residues, the nutrient needs of plants, nanopesticides or their
nanoformulations, as well as tools for monitoring the quality of agricultural products
or new functional materials (Prasad et al. 2014, 2017; Marzbani et al. 2015; Sertova
2015; Anderson et al. 2016; Nuruzzaman et al. 2016; Iavicoli et al. 2017). Nanotechnology may be used to increase yields by improving the capacity of plants to
absorb nutrients (Gruère 2012; Tarafdar et al. 2013; Mukhopadhyay 2014). Numerous attempts are being made to develop new nanoagrochemicals (Kim et al. 2018).
In addition to this, nanotechnology has also made it possible to find new directions in
the development of genetically modified crops and the means of production used in
animal breeding, as well as smart systems for the processing, packaging, and
monitoring of foodstuffs (Raliya et al. 2013; Luvisi 2016; Iavicoli et al. 2017).
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
5
2
Ácm
À3 ), which becomes greater as the particle size
becomes smaller. This has an effect on the reactivity, toughness, and adsorption
properties of nanomaterials and antimicrobial activity. Among nanomaterials,
nanoparticles (NPs) of metals are particularly noteworthy – forming a group which
has already been commercialized on numerous occasions in many fields, including
in medicine, agriculture, the automotive sector, electronics, dentistry, the construction industry, and photography (Bandyopadhyay et al. 2013; Jeevanandam et al.
2018; Thangadurai et al. 2020a, b). The number of patent applications filed in the
nanotechnology sector has risen around tenfold over the last two decades, which is
indicative of the very major potential of nanomaterials in commercial products
(Dang et al. 2010; Kim et al. 2018).
Nanotechnology is something that we consider to be a technology of the future,
but we already know that in some areas it will lead to breakthroughs, while in others
it will not prove to be any use (Kim et al. 2018). Nanotechnology is inspiring many
people to come up with futuristic visions, which are widely covered in the mass
media, but these visions are not always confirmed by the results of scientific studies.
The information that commercial companies which manufacture products involving
different nanomaterials provide on the subject is often incomplete. This means that it
is difficult to estimate the actual significance of the nanotechnologies deployed in
products currently on the market. The excitement surrounding nanotechnology
shows no sign of relenting, but there has now been a breakthrough regarding the
uncritical assessment of its significance and safety. More care is starting to be taken
in this area. Gross et al. (2018) estimated that every new technology needs at least
20 years to be effectively and safely commercialized. A situation cannot be allowed
to occur, where materials and products which have not been thoroughly tested and
described find their way onto the market, as the consequences of such an oversight
could be very dangerous in many ways. Everyone still remembers the example of
asbestos – which was quickly and widely commercialized – and the problems which
had to be dealt with later as a result.
1.3
Nanotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Industry
Nanotechnology has the potential to transform agriculture and food production, and
the leading examples in this field are innovative tools for the rapid diagnosis of pests,
mycotoxins, residues, the nutrient needs of plants, nanopesticides or their
nanoformulations, as well as tools for monitoring the quality of agricultural products
or new functional materials (Prasad et al. 2014, 2017; Marzbani et al. 2015; Sertova
2015; Anderson et al. 2016; Nuruzzaman et al. 2016; Iavicoli et al. 2017). Nanotechnology may be used to increase yields by improving the capacity of plants to
absorb nutrients (Gruère 2012; Tarafdar et al. 2013; Mukhopadhyay 2014). Numerous attempts are being made to develop new nanoagrochemicals (Kim et al. 2018).
In addition to this, nanotechnology has also made it possible to find new directions in
the development of genetically modified crops and the means of production used in
animal breeding, as well as smart systems for the processing, packaging, and
monitoring of foodstuffs (Raliya et al. 2013; Luvisi 2016; Iavicoli et al. 2017).
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
5