How is nanotechnology influencing agribusiness?
19/06/24 - Thuanne Bráulio Hennig
Environment | Food Safety | Technology
Advances in nanotechnology have revolutionized the sector with contributions to increased productivity and sustainability.
Significant population growth has raised challenges to food security and environmental sustainability. The United Nations (UN) projects that by 2030 the world population will reach 8,5 billion people and, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), almost 600 million people will suffer from chronic malnutrition by the same year. At the same time, environmental concerns and requirements are becoming increasingly relevant. In this difficult scenario, efficient methods of improving agricultural crops and food production and storage are required. Thus, nanotechnology presents itself as a revolutionary in propelling new tools and techniques that are more efficient compared to conventional methods.
By definition, a nanoparticle is considered to be any matter with a very small size, up to 100 nanometers (nm), which generally cannot be seen by the human eye. The collaboration of different areas of knowledge, such as physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, makes it possible for these nanoparticles to be produced for the benefit of agriculture and the environment. Nanotechnology in agriculture focuses on nanofertilizers and nanoagrochemicals , such as nanopesticides, as well as other technologies to enhance plant growth and genetically improve crops.
Source: CropLife Brazil (2019)
Nanoscale formulation technology is an intelligent system for distributing nutrients and other active ingredients in commercial agricultural crops, especially used in fertilizers and pesticides. These nanoformulations consist of engineered nanoparticles or nanoencapsulation – most often in biodegradable materials – of nutrients and active ingredients. This technology ensures crop productivity with lower application doses in the field, thus contributing to more sustainable production.
The use of nanofertilizers and nanopesticides can be potentially more advantageous than conventional formulations, firstly, due to the more precise, slow and constant distribution of active ingredients to crops. Furthermore, nanoencapsulation protects the active ingredient from the degradation effects caused by adverse environmental conditions, such as sunlight, the action of microorganisms, humidity, etc., extending the shelf life of the active ingredient. Another important point is the improvement in the adhesion and absorption of active ingredients by plants due to the extremely small size of the particles. All these advantages result in the reduction of doses and frequency of application of products in the field, avoiding high application rates, reducing waste, as well as the risks of toxicity, while promoting greater efficiency and productivity.
Nanofertilizers based on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), as well as nanoformulations containing rhizobacteria or micronutrients such as silica, iron, copper, and zinc, have already been developed and have demonstrated high efficiency in soil nutrition and high plant productivity. For example, the application of nanofertilizers containing NPK has been repeatedly associated with increased productivity of wheat, chickpeas, peanuts, and cotton compared to conventional application. Nanoformulations of rhizobacteria in association with iron nanoparticles are excellent for the development of corn crops and grain yield. Similarly, studies have found that the application of zinc nanoparticles potentially improved the yield and quality of soybean oil, as well as increased the productivity of cotton and millet.
Among nanopesticides, nanofungicides based on copper, silver, zinc and sulfur are already widely used and effective in controlling fungi in plants and fruits. Given the concern about pesticides widely used in agriculture, such as paraquat and 2,4-D, which have been banned in several countries due to their environmental impacts, nanoformulations of these products have shown greater herbicide efficacy without causing harmful effects to the ecosystem, offering safe alternatives for use.
One of the most widely used active ingredients in Brazil and worldwide in herbicide formulations, atrazine, has been the subject of national research in nanotechnology. Although the substance is very efficient in combating weeds, it poses a risk to organisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems due to residues from its application. Therefore, more advanced techniques for its use are necessary. Studies carried out with the atrazine-based nanoherbicide revealed that its efficiency in controlling weeds is ten times greater than that of the conventional formulation without compromising its effectiveness (EMBRAPA, 2019). These discoveries about nanopesticides are of fundamental interest to the agrochemical market, but they raise concerns about their limitations and adverse effects on the environment and human health, which are not yet fully understood.
Beyond nano-agrochemicals, other nanotechnologies applied to agriculture have been developed and used. Seed nanopriming , for example, is an emerging technology in agriculture and consists of the chemical treatment of seeds to optimize their germination and improve plant development. The advancement of nanotechnology in genetic engineering and gene editing, using gene transfer techniques with nanoparticles, has also directly influenced the increase in the productivity of commercially important crops. Nanosensors , in turn, can detect and measure a variety of crop parameters, such as soil moisture, nutrient levels, acidity, presence of pests and diseases, among others. These tools constitute manufactured nanostructures (nanochips, nanoelectrodes, or other nanosensors) that can be used in agricultural implements, such as seeders, sprayers, and intelligent irrigation systems, but can also be dispersed in the environment by drones and sprays. The use of nanosensors can be highly efficient for resource management, crop health control, soil quality monitoring, and precision agriculture customization. Another example is nanobiofortification techniques, which have been employed to enrich food plants with desired nutrients in nanoparticles. Other support and service areas in agribusiness, such as packaging, food processing, and preservation, have also benefited from nanotechnology applications.
In general, it is observed that the benefits and applications of nanotechnology in agriculture are vast, contributing to the increase in global food production while reducing the use of chemical inputs. From the development of highly efficient nanofertilizers and nanopesticides to the application of nanotechnologies in several areas indirectly related to agriculture, such as food processing and effluent treatment. However, despite its enormous potential, nanotechnology has not yet been fully explored, and knowledge about its limitations is still shallow, indicating the need to better understand the long-term impact of nanomaterials on the environment. Despite the already proven benefits, it is necessary to anticipate risks that may arise in the future.
References and recommended readings
AI-JUTHERY, HWA; LAHMOD, NR; AI-TAEE, AHG Intelligent, Nano-fertilizers: A New Technology for Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency (Article Review). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2021.
BRAZIL. Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources. Pesticide marketing reports. Accessed on: March 17, 2024.
CropLife Brazil. Nanotechnology enhances the action of agricultural pesticides. Accessed on: March 17, 2024.
ELEMIKE, EE; UZOH, IM; ONWUDIWE, DC; BABALOLA, OO The Role of Nanotechnology in the Fortification of Plant Nutrients and Improvement of Crop Production . Applied Science, 2019.
EMBRAPA. Development of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers provides new tools for sustainable agricultural growth. Accessed on: March 17, 2024.
KUMAR, A.; SINGH, K.; VERMA, P. et al., Effect of nitrogen and zinc nanofertilizer with the organic farming practices on cereal and oil seed crops . Scientific reports, vol. 12, 2022.
UN. World population expected to reach 9,7 billion by 2050, says UN report. Accessed: March 17, 2024.
SARITHA, GNG; ANJU, T.; KUMAR, A. Nanotechnology - Big impact: How nanotechnology is changing the future of agriculture? . Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, vol. 10, 2022.
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GLOSSARY
Unit of measurement of length in the metric system, corresponding to 10−9 meter (0,000.000.001 meter, one billionth of a meter, or one millionth of a millimeter). Its symbol is nm.
This involves the integration of nanotechnology with traditional agrochemicals. These nanosubstances increase the effectiveness and efficiency of agrochemicals such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers, through the manipulation of materials on a nanometric scale. Among the main benefits of using nanoagrochemicals are the controlled release of active ingredients, better adhesion of substances to the leaf surface as well as better distribution and penetration of active ingredients into leaf tissues and, finally, reduction in the amount of chemical product required and minimization of environmental and human health impacts.
Technique used to encase substances in very small particles, on the nanometric scale. These particles are called nanocapsules or nanoparticles and the encasing material is usually polymeric or lipidic materials.
These are bacteria that live in the region close to the roots of plants, known as the rhizosphere. They establish a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship with plants, benefiting both the plant and the bacteria. Rhizobacteria can aid plant growth in a number of ways, such as promoting nutrient availability, increasing resistance to diseases and environmental stresses, and improving water uptake. In addition, some rhizobacteria have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form that plants can utilize, which is especially important for healthy plant growth in nutrient-poor soils.
It is an emerging technique in agriculture that integrates nanotechnology, through nanoparticles, associated with different materials and their application in seeds to improve their performance during the germination process and initial growth of plants. These nanoparticles can integrate different materials, such as metal oxides, carbon, polymers or inorganic compounds.
They refer to nanoscale sensory devices that are used to monitor the presence of pests and diseases, as well as other factors relevant to agricultural production.
It is an approach that combines nanotechnology with bioremediation techniques to remedy environmental contamination caused by organic and inorganic pollutants. In this process, nanoparticles are used to increase the efficiency of degrading microorganisms present in the environment, facilitating the degradation, transformation or removal of contaminants.
Process of separating substances in an aqueous solution, using membranes with extremely small pores, on a nanometric scale, allowing the retention of multivalent ions, organic molecules and colloidal particles. These membranes are used in water purification processes, effluent treatment, desalination, removal of color and organic matter, among others.
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