Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food Science

A comprehensive overview of the current state of this highly relevant topic. An interdisciplinary team of researchers reports on the opportunities and challenges of nanotechnology in the agriculture and food sector, highlighting the scientific, technical, regulatory, safety, and societal impacts. They also discuss the perspectives for the future, and provide insights into ways of assuring safety so as to obtain confidence for the consumer, as well as an overview of the innovations and applications. Essential reading for materials and agricultural scientists, food chemists and technologists, as well as toxicologists and ecotoxicologists.

A comprehensive overview of the current state of this highly relevant topic. An interdisciplinary team of researchers reports on the opportunities and challenges of nanotechnology in the agriculture and food sector, highlighting the scientific, technical, regulatory, safety, and societal impacts. They also discuss the perspectives for the future, and provide insights into ways of assuring safety so as to obtain confidence for the consumer, as well as an overview of the innovations and applications.Essential reading for materials and agricultural scientists, food chemists and technologists, as well as toxicologists and ecotoxicologists.

ForewordIntroductionPART I. BASIC ELEMENTS OF NANOFUNCTIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SCIENCENanotechnologies for Agriculture and Foods: Past and FutureNanoscience: Relevance to Agriculture and the Food SectorNaturally Occurring Nanostructures in FoodArtificial Nanostructures in FoodEngineered Inorganic Nanoparticles in FoodNanostructure Characterization using Synchrotron Radiation and NeutronsPART II. OPPORTUNITIES, INNOVATIONS, AND NEW APPLICATIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMSNanomaterials in Plant ProtectionNanoparticle-Based Delivery Systems for Nutraceuticals: Trojan-Horse Hydrogel BeadsBottom-Up Approaches in the Design of Soft Foods for the ElderlyBarrier Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Food PackagingNanotechnologies for Active and Intelligent Food Packaging: Opportunities and RisksOverview of Inorganic Nanoparticles for Food Science ApplicationsNanotechnology for Synthetic Biology: Crossroads Throughout Spatial ConfinementModeling and Simulation of Bacterial Biofilm Treatment with Applications to Food SciencePART III. TECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF NANOSCALE DETECTION SYSTEMSSmart Systems for Food Quality and SafetyNanoelectronics: Technological Opportunities for the Management of the Food ChainPART IV. NANOTECHNOLOGY: TOXICOLOGY ASPECTS AND REGULATORY ISSUESQuality and Safety of NanofoodInteraction Between Ingested Engineered Nanomaterials and the Gastrointestinal Tract: In Vitro Toxicology AspectsLife Cycle of Nanoparticles in the EnvironmentPART V. GOVERNANCE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETAL DIMENSIONSThe Politics of Governance: Nanotechnology and the Transformations of Science PolicyPotential Economic Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials in Agriculture and the Food SectorConclusionsIndex