smart agricultural development, are already in action. In the
context of smart agriculture revolution, nanosensors may
potentially manage the food supply chain right from crop
cultivation to distribution (such as harvesting, food processing, transportation, packaging) (Scognamiglio et al.
2014). The regular monitoring of soil pH and nutrients,
residual pesticides in soil and crops tissues, soil humidity,
pathogens detection, and prediction of nitrogen uptake using
nanosensor can give way to a more sustainable and smart
farming system (Bellingham 2011). Also, the presence of
pests, pathogens, or pesticides with use of biosensor tools
may help us tune the amount of chemicals to use, utilizing
the high sensitivity of nanosensors. A network of nanosensors installed across cultivated fields may help in comprehensive monitoring of crop growth in real-time manner,
providing quality data for scientific analysis and interpretation (El Beyrouthya and El Azzi 2014). Similarly, bringing
automation in the irrigation systems using nanosensors
technology under changing climate conditions toward water
scarcity may potentially maximize the efficiency of water use
in agro-ecosystems in a simple way (de Medeiros et al.
2001).
6.1 Nanotechnology in Food Industry
and Supply Chain
Nanotechnology may help in developing analytical devices
dedicated specifically to the control of quality, safety, and
bio-security from agricultural field to throughout the food
supply chain (Valdes et al. 2009). Nanotechnology has
multiple uses in food industry. For example, it can help in
pathogen detection and diagnosis (via nano-scale biosensors), supply bioactive ingredients in foodstuffs, texture, and
color modification in food (via nano-scale filtration system)
(Martirosyan and Schneider 2014). Nano-printed, intelligent
packaging (Ghaani et al. 2016), nano-coding of paper and
plastics materials (Bhushani and Anandharamakrishnan
2014), and nano-additives (Khond and Kriplani 2016) have
already been used for authentication and identification purposes in supply food chains. In food quality testing, monitoring, and control of food quality (e.g., smell, taste, color,
texture), sensing ability of label and package and nutraceutical delivery can be monitored by using nanotechnology
tools.
6.2 Food Processing
In food processing, use of nano-carriers for the delivery of
nutrients/supplements, nano-sized organic additives, supplements, and animal feed is in limited use in recent times.
Recently, vitamins are being encapsulated and delivered into
human blood efficiently via foods through digestion system.
Further, many foods and drinks have also been fortified with
ENPs adding benefits to the product, without affecting the
appearance/texture and taste. For example, nanoparticle
emulsions are added in ice creams, which improve their
texture and uniformity (Berekaa 2015). For example, KD
Pharma BEXBACH GMBH (Germany) is known to provide
encapsulated Omega-3 fatty acids in suspension and powder
forms in nano- as well as micro-sizes, which is gaining
higher market with time over the conventional one.
6.3 Food Packaging and Labeling
Nanosensors used in recent times in supply food chain
ensure food authenticity, quality, freshness, safety, and
traceability across food supply chain via faster, highly sensitive, and cost-effective detection of various target molecules. Currently, the assessment of food quality and safety is
best using nanosensors, providing smart monitoring of chief
food ingredients (sugar, vitamin, amino acid and mineral)
and contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, toxins, etc.).
Such kind of intelligent and smart packaging of foods to
monitor integrity and freshness of food during transportation
and storage is also a trademark of nano-sensor technology
(Vanderroost et al. 2014). In them, nanosensors observe the
physical parameters (such as pH, humidity, and temperature), to identify gas mixtures (e.g., O 2 and CO 2 ) in order to
detect toxins and pathogens and to control freshness (via
ethanol, acetic acid, lactic acid) and decomposition (via
cadaverine, putrescine).
Recently, some packaging materials incorporated with
“nanosensors” have been used in food industry to detect the
oxidation process in milk and meat (Bumbudsanpharoke and
Ko 2015). NP-based sensors indicate the color change in
case of oxidation/deterioration. ENPs being good barriers for
gaseous diffusion, which can be exploited in drink industry
(beer, soda waters) to increase in shelf life. Similarly, ENPs
in packaging, nano-coating over plastic polymers, slow
down processes, such as oxidation and microbial degradation (owing to antibacterial property) further extending the
shelf life of food products (Berekaa 2015). Therefore, nanotechnology is a forward-looking technique in agricultural
bio-security (Bumbudsanpharoke and Ko 2015).
Engineered nanoparticles show broad-spectrum antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria. For example, ZnO-NPs have been observed to
suppress Staphylococcus aureus (Liu et al. 2009). Similarly,
Ag-NPs show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia
coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in a
concentration-dependent manner (Aziz et al. 2016).
According to recent studies, the major processes through
which ENPs unleash their antibacterial effects: (1) bacterial
12
P. Srivastava et al.
context of smart agriculture revolution, nanosensors may
potentially manage the food supply chain right from crop
cultivation to distribution (such as harvesting, food processing, transportation, packaging) (Scognamiglio et al.
2014). The regular monitoring of soil pH and nutrients,
residual pesticides in soil and crops tissues, soil humidity,
pathogens detection, and prediction of nitrogen uptake using
nanosensor can give way to a more sustainable and smart
farming system (Bellingham 2011). Also, the presence of
pests, pathogens, or pesticides with use of biosensor tools
may help us tune the amount of chemicals to use, utilizing
the high sensitivity of nanosensors. A network of nanosensors installed across cultivated fields may help in comprehensive monitoring of crop growth in real-time manner,
providing quality data for scientific analysis and interpretation (El Beyrouthya and El Azzi 2014). Similarly, bringing
automation in the irrigation systems using nanosensors
technology under changing climate conditions toward water
scarcity may potentially maximize the efficiency of water use
in agro-ecosystems in a simple way (de Medeiros et al.
2001).
6.1 Nanotechnology in Food Industry
and Supply Chain
Nanotechnology may help in developing analytical devices
dedicated specifically to the control of quality, safety, and
bio-security from agricultural field to throughout the food
supply chain (Valdes et al. 2009). Nanotechnology has
multiple uses in food industry. For example, it can help in
pathogen detection and diagnosis (via nano-scale biosensors), supply bioactive ingredients in foodstuffs, texture, and
color modification in food (via nano-scale filtration system)
(Martirosyan and Schneider 2014). Nano-printed, intelligent
packaging (Ghaani et al. 2016), nano-coding of paper and
plastics materials (Bhushani and Anandharamakrishnan
2014), and nano-additives (Khond and Kriplani 2016) have
already been used for authentication and identification purposes in supply food chains. In food quality testing, monitoring, and control of food quality (e.g., smell, taste, color,
texture), sensing ability of label and package and nutraceutical delivery can be monitored by using nanotechnology
tools.
6.2 Food Processing
In food processing, use of nano-carriers for the delivery of
nutrients/supplements, nano-sized organic additives, supplements, and animal feed is in limited use in recent times.
Recently, vitamins are being encapsulated and delivered into
human blood efficiently via foods through digestion system.
Further, many foods and drinks have also been fortified with
ENPs adding benefits to the product, without affecting the
appearance/texture and taste. For example, nanoparticle
emulsions are added in ice creams, which improve their
texture and uniformity (Berekaa 2015). For example, KD
Pharma BEXBACH GMBH (Germany) is known to provide
encapsulated Omega-3 fatty acids in suspension and powder
forms in nano- as well as micro-sizes, which is gaining
higher market with time over the conventional one.
6.3 Food Packaging and Labeling
Nanosensors used in recent times in supply food chain
ensure food authenticity, quality, freshness, safety, and
traceability across food supply chain via faster, highly sensitive, and cost-effective detection of various target molecules. Currently, the assessment of food quality and safety is
best using nanosensors, providing smart monitoring of chief
food ingredients (sugar, vitamin, amino acid and mineral)
and contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, toxins, etc.).
Such kind of intelligent and smart packaging of foods to
monitor integrity and freshness of food during transportation
and storage is also a trademark of nano-sensor technology
(Vanderroost et al. 2014). In them, nanosensors observe the
physical parameters (such as pH, humidity, and temperature), to identify gas mixtures (e.g., O 2 and CO 2 ) in order to
detect toxins and pathogens and to control freshness (via
ethanol, acetic acid, lactic acid) and decomposition (via
cadaverine, putrescine).
Recently, some packaging materials incorporated with
“nanosensors” have been used in food industry to detect the
oxidation process in milk and meat (Bumbudsanpharoke and
Ko 2015). NP-based sensors indicate the color change in
case of oxidation/deterioration. ENPs being good barriers for
gaseous diffusion, which can be exploited in drink industry
(beer, soda waters) to increase in shelf life. Similarly, ENPs
in packaging, nano-coating over plastic polymers, slow
down processes, such as oxidation and microbial degradation (owing to antibacterial property) further extending the
shelf life of food products (Berekaa 2015). Therefore, nanotechnology is a forward-looking technique in agricultural
bio-security (Bumbudsanpharoke and Ko 2015).
Engineered nanoparticles show broad-spectrum antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria. For example, ZnO-NPs have been observed to
suppress Staphylococcus aureus (Liu et al. 2009). Similarly,
Ag-NPs show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia
coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in a
concentration-dependent manner (Aziz et al. 2016).
According to recent studies, the major processes through
which ENPs unleash their antibacterial effects: (1) bacterial
12
P. Srivastava et al.