Nanotechnology in Food & Agriculture - denix

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Table 7: Nano agrochemicals under development
Type of product Product name
& manufacturer
“Super” combined
fertiliser and
pesticide (Pakistan-
US Science and
Technology
Cooperative
Program 2006).
Herbicide (Raj
2006).
Pesticides, including
herbicides (Invest
Australia 2007).
and told us that none of Syngenta’s
other products contain nanoparticles.
Such confusion could be avoided with
mandatory labelling of nano-ingredients
and formulations. Tables 7 provides
information on nano agrochemicals which
are now on sale or in development.
Nano-genetic manipulation of
agricultural crops and animals
For decades, molecular biologists
have sought to genetically engineer
microbes, plants and animals, but
have been faced with many technical
limitations and hurdles (Zhang et al. 2006).
Nanobiotechnology now appears to
offer a new suite of tools to manipulate
the genes of plants or animals by
using nanoparticles, nanofibres and
nanocapsules, rather than using viral
vectors, to carry foreign DNA and
chemicals into cells (Bharali et al. 2005;
He et al. 2003; Radu et al. 2004; Roy
et al. 2005; Torney et al. 2007; Vassaux
et al. 2006). These nanomaterials can
transport a much larger number of genes
as well as the chemicals that trigger
| NANOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD & AGRICULTURE
Pakistan-US Science
and Technology
Cooperative Program
Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University (India)
and Technologico de
Monterry (Mexico)
Australian
Commonwealth
Scientific and
Industrial Research
Organization
Nano content Purpose
Nanoclay capsule contains
growth stimulants and
biocontrol agents
Because it can be designed
for slow release of active
ingredients, treatment requires
only one application over the life
of the crop
Nano-formulated Designed to attack the seed
coating of weeds, destroy soil
seed banks and prevent weed
germination
Nano-encapsulated active
ingredients
Very small size of nanocapsules
increases their potency and may
enable targeted release of active
ingredients
gene expression. Theoretically, the use
of nanotechnology also offers greater
control over the release of DNA at the
target site.
Nanobiotechnology is already enabling
scientists to rearrange the DNA of
agricultural crops. In 2004, the ETC Group
reported that researchers at Chiang Mai
University in Thailand had been able to
alter rice colour from purple to green.
They reported that ultimately the Thai
researchers hoped to use their technique
to develop Jasmine rice varieties that can
be grown all year long, with shorter stems
and improved grain colour (ETC Group
2004). There have also been reports that
cellular ‘injection’ with carbon nanofibres
containing foreign DNA has been used
to genetically alter golden rice (AzoNano
2003).
Synthetic biology seeks to create
entirely new organisms
‘Synthetic biology’ is the name given to a
new area of work that combines genetic
engineering with nanotechnology,
informatics and engineering. The United