Nanotechnology Applications in Agriculture and Food Systems
Summary
Nanotechnology offers transformative tools for enhancing agricultural productivity, food safety and environmental sustainability. At its core, the discipline manipulates materials at the nanoscale to exploit unique physicochemical properties. In crop production, nano-enabled fertilisers and pesticides deliver nutrients or active ingredients with high precision and controlled release, reducing losses to leaching and volatilisation. Nanosensors provide real-time monitoring of soil moisture, nutrient status and pathogen presence, enabling data-driven management. In post-harvest handling and food processing, nano-encapsulation stabilises bioactive compounds, prolonging shelf life and preserving nutritional quality. Active and intelligent packaging systems incorporating antimicrobial nanoparticles inhibit spoilage organisms and signal food quality changes. Environmental remediation benefits from nanoscale adsorbents and photocatalysts that remove pollutants from soil and water. Across these applications, the overarching aim is to increase resource-use efficiency, improve crop resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses, and ensure food security while minimising ecological risks. Integration with precision agriculture and digital platforms emphasises the global significance of nanotechnology for sustainable agri-food systems.
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Nanotechnology Applications in Agriculture and Food Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology applications in agriculture and food systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanofertiliser: A formulation of essential nutrients engineered at the nanoscale for controlled release and enhanced root uptake.
Nanopesticide: A pesticide delivery system utilising nanoparticles to improve target specificity and reduce off-target effects.
Nanosensor: A nano-engineered device capable of detecting chemical or biological analytes in soil or plant tissues with high sensitivity.
Nanoencapsulation: Encapsulation of bioactive compounds within nanoscale carriers to protect against degradation and enable sustained release.
References
- Agricultural Nanotechnologies: What are the current possibilities?. Nano Today (2015).
- Regulatory aspects of nanotechnology in the agri/feed/food sector in EU and non-EU countries. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology (2015).
- Prospects of Nanotechnology in Improving the Productivity and Quality of Horticultural Crops. Horticulturae (2021).
- Commercial Opportunities and Market Demand for Nanotechnologies in Agribusiness Sector. Journal of Technology Management and Innovation (2015).
- Nanotechnology: Review on Emerging Techniques in Remediating Water and Soil Pollutions. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management (2020).
- Nano Revolution: “Tiny tech, big impact: How nanotechnology is driving SDGs progress". Heliyon (2024).
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