Technology Innovation in Agriculture and Food System

Relationship of Nanotechnology to Science and Engineering in Agriculture and Food Systems

Today in agriculture if a plant or animal becomes infected with disease, it can be days, weeks, or months before disease presence is detected by whole-organism symptoms (THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 2003).

Nanotechnology, as a new enabling technology, has the potential to revolutionize agriculture and food systems in the United States. Agricultural and food systems security, disease treatment delivery systems, new tools for molecular and cellular biology, new materials for pathogen detection and protection of the environment are examples of the important links of nanotechnology to the science and engineering of agriculture and food systems. Some overarching examples of nanotechnology as an enabling technology are:

· Production, processing, and shipment of food products can be made more secure through the development and implementation of nanosensors for pathogen and contaminant detection;
· The development of nanodevices can allow historical environmental records and location tracking of individual shipments;
· Systems that provide the integration of “Smart Systems” sensing, localization, reporting and remote control can increase efficiency and security;
· Agricultural and Food Systems security is of critical importance to homeland security. Our nation’s food supply must be carefully monitored and protected. Nanotechnology holds the potential of such a system becoming a reality. Agriculture has long dealt with improving the efficiency of crop production, food processing, food safety and environmental consequences of food production, storage and distribution. Nanotechnology provides a new tool to pursue these historically relevant goals.

http://www.nseafs.cornell.edu/web.roadmap.pdf