An
agricultural methodology widely used in the USA, Europe and Japan, which
efficiently utilizes modern technology for crop management, is called Controlled
Environment Agriculture (CEA). CEA is an advanced and intensive form of
hydroponically-based agriculture. Plants are grown within a controlled environment
so that horticultural practices can be optimized. The computerized system monitors
and regulates localised environments such as fields of crops. CEA technology, as
it exists today, provides an excellent platform for the introduction of
nanotechnology to agriculture. With many of the monitoring and control systems
already in place, nanotechnological devices for CEA that provide
"scouting" capabilities could tremendously improve the grower's
ability to determine the best time of harvest for the crop, the vitality of the
crop, and food security issues, such as microbial or chemical contamination.
Nanotechnology
is an enable technology that has the potential to revolutionize agriculture and
food systems. Driven by increasing consumer demand for healthy food products,
researchers have been applying tools and knowledge in nanotechnology to address
the issues relevant to food and nutrition. This concise review is mainly
focused on nano-emulsions and polymermicelles- based delivery systems which
have shown enhanced oral bioavailability and biological efficacies (that is,
anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and so on) of different phytochemicals. Nano-emulsions
are a class of extremely small droplets that appear to be transparent or
translucent with a bluish coloration. They are usually in the range 50 to 200
mm but much smaller than the range (from 1 to 100 μm) for conventional emulsions.
Curcumin nano-emulsions
show 85% inhibition of TPA induced mouse ear inflammation as well inhibition of
cyclin D1 expression, while dibenzoylmethane (DBM) nano-emulsion shows about
3-fold increase in oral bioavailability compared to the conventional DBM emulsion.
Biopolymer micelles show significantly improved water solubility/dispersibility
and in vitro anticancer activity of phytochemicals. More research efforts are
still needed for the understanding of the potential impacts of nano-encapsulated
phytochemicals on the human body and environment to address the public concerns.
Precision Farming
Precision
farming has been a long-desired goal to maximise output (i.e. crop yields)
while minimizing input (i.e. fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc.) through
monitoring environmental variables and applying targeted action. Precision farming
makes use of computers, global satellite positioning systems, and remote
sensing devices to measure highly localised environmental conditions thus
determining whether crops are growing at maximum efficiency or precisely
identifying the nature and location of problems. By using centralized data to determine
soil conditions and plant development, seeding fertilizer, chemical and water
use can be fine-tuned to lower production costs and potentially increase production.
Precision farming
can also help to reduce agricultural waste and thus keep environmental pollution
to a minimum. Although not fully implemented yet, tiny sensors and monitoring
systems enabled by nanotechnology will have a large impact on future precision
farming methodologies. One of the major roles for nanotechnology enabled
devices will be the increased use of autonomous sensors linked into a GPS system
for real-time monitoring. These nano-sensors could be distributed throughout
the field where they can monitor soil conditions and crop growth.
Extracted from Agri Gold Swarna Sedyam
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