This book presents a comprehensive overview of new and emerging nanotechnologies. It includes aspects of nanoparticle monitoring, toxicity, and public perception, and covers applications that address both crop growing and treatment of agricultural wastewater. Topics include nanoagrochemicals (nanofertilizers, -pesticides, -herbicides), nanobiosensors, and nanotechnologies for food processing, packaging, and storage, crop improvement and plant disease control. The group of expert authors is led by an experienced team of editors.
"The advent of nanotechnology has unleashed enormous prospects for the development of new products and applications for a wide range of industrial and consumer sectors. The new technological developments have already opened up a multibillion dollar industry in recent years, the global market impact of which is expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2015, with around 2 million workers. While the majority of manufacturing and use of nanoscale materials occurs in the United States, the European Union, with its around 30 percent global share of the sector, is not lagging far behind in this field. Like other sectors, nanotechnology promises to revolutionize the whole food chain--from production to processing, storage, and development of innovative materials, products and applications. Although the potential applications of nanotechnology are wide ranging, the current applications in the food and agricultural sectors are relatively few, because the science is still newly emergent. An overview of more than 800 nanotechnology-based consumer products that are currently available worldwide, suggests that only around 10 percent of these are foods, beverages and food packaging products. However, nanotechnology-derived products and applications in these sectors have been steadily increasing in recent years, and are predicted to grow rapidly in the future. This is because the new technologies have a great potential to address many of the industry's current needs." -' P. 3
Nanotechnology is increasingly used in the food industry in the production, processing, packaging, and preservation of foods. It is also used to enhance flavor and color, nutrient delivery, and bioavailability, and to improve food safety and in quality management. Nanotechnology Applications in the Food Industry is a comprehensive reference book containing exhaustive information on nanotechnology and the scope of its applications in the food industry. The book has five sections delving on all aspects of nanotechnology and its key role in food industry in the present scenario. Part I on Introduction to Nanotechnology in Food Sector covers the technological basis for its application in food industry and in agriculture. The use of nanosized foods and nanomaterials in food, the safety issues pertaining to its applications in foods and on market analysis and consumer perception of food nanotechnology has been discussed in the section. Part II on Nanotechnology in Food Packaging reviews the use of nanopolymers, nanocomposites and nanostructured coatings in food packaging. Part III on Nanosensors for Safe and Quality Foods provides an overview on nanotechnology in the development of biosensors for pathogen and food contaminant detections, and in sampling and food quality management. Part IV on Nanotechnology for Nutrient Delivery in Foods deals with the use of nanotechnology in foods for controlled and effective release of nutrients. Part V on Safety Assessment for Use of Nanomaterials in Food and Food Production deliberates on the benefits and risks associated with the extensive and long term applications of nanotechnology in food sector.
Nanotechnology Applications in Food: Flavor, Stability, Nutrition, and Safety is an up-to-date, practical, applications-based reference that discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each application to help researchers, scientists, and bioengineers know what and what not to do to improve and facilitate the production of food ingredients and monitor food safety. The book offers a broad spectrum of topics trending in the food industry, such as pharmaceutical, biomedical, and antimicrobial approaches in food, highlighting current concerns regarding safety, regulations, and the restricted use of nanomaterials. - Includes how nanobiosensors are useful for the detection of foodborne pathogens - Discusses applications of nanotechnology from flavor and nutrition, to stability and safety in packaging - Includes nano and microencapsulation, nanoemulsions, nanosensors, and nano delivery systems - Identifies practical applications of nanoscience for use in industry today
This book investigates the role of law in confronting major societal transformations embodied by the emergence of nanotechnologies. Taking the case of the European Union, it explores who the key decision-makers in the regulation of nanotechnologies are and how they take decisions. The questions are explored through two distinct case studies: the food and chemicals sectors. The book charts an incremental retreat of the European Union to its executive powers, including 'soft law' measures such as agencies' guidelines or implementing measures. This, the author argues, results in the Union's fundamental democratic control mechanisms, the EU legislature and the Court of Justice of the EU, being circumvented. The book recommends several immediate proposals to reform EU risk regulation, advocating a greater reliance on the European Parliament and outlining measures to increase the transparency of guidance drafting by EU agencies. This important work provides a timely examination of how emerging technologies pose both regulatory and democratic challenges.
Advances in Smart Nanomaterials and their Applications brings together the latest advances and novel methods in the preparation of smart nanomaterials for cutting-edge applications. The book covers fundamental concepts of nanomaterials, including fabrication methods, processing, application areas, specific applications of smart nanomaterials across a range of areas, such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, food science and packaging, sensing, cosmetics and dermatology, gas, oil, energy, wastewater and environment, textiles, agriculture, and forestry sectors. In each case, possible challenges, recent trends, and potential future developments are addressed in detail. The book also discusses various considerations for the utilization of smart nanomaterials, including environmental safety and legal requirements. The book is suitable for graduate students as a textbook and simultaneously be useful for both novices and experienced scientists or researchers, medical biologists, nanobiotechnologists, nanoengineers, agricultural scientists, and general biologists as a reference book as well as inspires some industrialists and policy makers involved in the investigation of smart nanomaterials. - Introduces fundamentals of smart nanomaterials, including theory, fabrication methods, processing and properties - Opens the door to a broad range of multifaceted applications across agriculture, food science, biomedicine, energy and other areas - Considers environmental safety, risk assessment, legal requirements and sustainability issues
This volume addresses the challenges of the short shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Innovative packaging technologies are the most promising strategies for overcoming these limitations. This book provides a host of sustainable packaging solutions that deliver protection, branding, consumer attractiveness, and speed to market in a competitive retail environment. Key features of the book: • Provides an informative overview of fruit and vegetable requirements and available packaging materials and systems • Provides an understanding of the fundamentals of the impact of packaging on the quality and safety of fruits and vegetables • Covers the fundamental aspects of packaging requirements, including mathematical modeling and mechanical and engineering properties of packaging materials • Presents an in-depth discussion of innovative packaging technologies, such as MA/CA packaging, active packaging, intelligent packaging, and eco-friendly materials applied to fruit and vegetables • Looks at packaging design for better environmental and economic performance
Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials in the Agri-Food Industries: Smart Nanoarchitectures, Technologies, Challenges, and Applications brings together the latest advances in the utilization of advances nanotechnology, nanoarchitectures, and nanomaterials in the agricultural and food sectors. The book begins by discussing recent trends towards sustainable synthesis and application, covering green nanomaterials and biodegradable nanomaterials and composites. Subsequent chapters focus on key application areas of engineered nanomaterials in both agriculture and food processing, such as crop production and protection, delivery vehicles, detection of contaminants, nanobionic and genetic engineering in plants, active food packaging and preservation, enhanced food formulations and nutrients, nanoscale additives for freshness, and nanosensors. This is followed by a section that addresses key challenges relating to the application of nanostructures and nanodevices in these sectors, including global market considerations, health and environmental concerns, and intellectual property and socio-economic issues. Finally, policy implications and future perspective for the field are reviewed in detail. - Presents cutting-edge applications of nanotechnology across agriculture and food processing - Highlights the latest developments in green or biodegradable nanomaterials for increased sustainability - Considers key challenges relating to market, health and environment, regulations and policy
With nanotechnology being a relatively new field, the questions regarding safety and ethics are steadily increasing with the development of the research. This book aims to give an overview on the ethics associated with employing nanoscience for products with everyday applications. The risks as well as the regulations are discussed, and an outlook for the future of nanoscience on a manufacturer’s scale and for the society is provided. Handbook of Nanoethics is perfect for , academicians and scientist, as well as all other industry professionals and researchers. It is a good introduction for newcomers in the field who do not want to dive deep into the details but are eager to understand the ethical challenges and possible solution related to nanotechnology and ethics.