CURRENT SCENARIO AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION
INDRA RAUTELA
Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied and Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
PALLAVI DHEER
Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Patel Nagar, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
PRIYA THAPLIYAL
Department of Biochemistry, H.N.B. Garhwal (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal-246174, Uttarakhand, India
DHEERAJ SHAH
Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Patel Nagar, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
MALLIKA JOSHI
Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Patel Nagar, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
SHUCHI UPADHYAY
Department of Allied Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Bidholi, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
PRATEEK GURURANI
Department of Biochemistry, H.N.B. Garhwal (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal-246174, Uttarakhand, India
VIMLENDU BHUSHAN SINHA
Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Knowlege Park-III, Sharda University, Greater, Noida-201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
NAVEEN GAURAV
Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Patel Nagar, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
MANISH DEV SHARMA
Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Patel Nagar, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Past few decades have witnessed a remarkable contribution by the nanotechnological applications in agriculture and food production. Sustaining such potentials, nanotechnology has been proven to create and unfurl the opportunities in the sectors of molecular and cell biology, along with technology such as biosensing and micro or nano-based technology for the proper detection and identification of several cellular signals and others. The review aims to provide a brief overview of nanotechnological approaches with the highlights on the nanofertilizers, nanosensors, nanopesticides, and nanoparticles for food and plant disease, nanolaminates. The utilization of nanofertilizers and nanopesticides delivers a targeted and controlled release capacity which in contrast to the traditional methods depicts a higher efficiency. This efficiency along with its outcome is influenced by its properties and chemical interactions which further shows great potential in the controlling plant pests and its growth. The produces gained from the applicability of nanotechnology in the agricultural and food practices could bring the producers and the manufacturers on a more competitive position and benefit almost everyone through the new methods which will be incorporated to enrich the nutritional quality and food safety. Additionally, in the novel agricultural systems along with food security and packaging, the adroit applicability of the nanosensors have been observed. Easy identification and determination of the toxins, disease-causing agents, and other elements in the food and environmental samples were made possible with its cost-effectiveness. Even though the public understanding of nanotechnology is limited, it is still doing wonders in terms of its long-run benefits and its acceptance is dependent upon how it is introduced into the market.
Keywords: Nanoparticles, nanotechnology in agriculture, food security, nanosilver, nano-fertilizers, plant diseases, biosensors.