Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food Science

A comprehensive overview of the current state of this highly relevant topic. An interdisciplinary team of researchers reports on the opportunities and challenges of nanotechnology in the agriculture and food sector, highlighting the scientific, technical, regulatory, safety, and societal impacts. They also discuss the perspectives for the future, and provide insights into ways of assuring safety so as to obtain confidence for the consumer, as well as an overview of the innovations and applications.

Essential reading for materials and agricultural scientists, food chemists and technologists, as well as toxicologists and ecotoxicologists.

Foreword
Introduction
 
PART I. BASIC ELEMENTS OF NANOFUNCTIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SCIENCE
Nanotechnologies for Agriculture and Foods: Past and Future
Nanoscience: Relevance to Agriculture and the Food Sector
Naturally Occurring Nanostructures in Food
Artificial Nanostructures in Food
Engineered Inorganic Nanoparticles in Food
Nanostructure Characterization using Synchrotron Radiation and Neutrons
 
PART II. OPPORTUNITIES, INNOVATIONS, AND NEW APPLICATIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS
Nanomaterials in Plant Protection
Nanoparticle-Based Delivery Systems for Nutraceuticals: Trojan-Horse Hydrogel Beads
Bottom-Up Approaches in the Design of Soft Foods for the Elderly
Barrier Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Food Packaging
Nanotechnologies for Active and Intelligent Food Packaging: Opportunities and Risks
Overview of Inorganic Nanoparticles for Food Science Applications
Nanotechnology for Synthetic Biology: Crossroads Throughout Spatial Confinement
Modeling and Simulation of Bacterial Biofilm Treatment with Applications to Food Science
 
PART III. TECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF NANOSCALE DETECTION SYSTEMS
Smart Systems for Food Quality and Safety
Nanoelectronics: Technological Opportunities for the Management of the Food Chain
 
PART IV. NANOTECHNOLOGY: TOXICOLOGY ASPECTS AND REGULATORY ISSUES
Quality and Safety of Nanofood
Interaction Between Ingested Engineered Nanomaterials and the Gastrointestinal Tract: In Vitro Toxicology Aspects
Life Cycle of Nanoparticles in the Environment
 
PART V. GOVERNANCE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS
The Politics of Governance: Nanotechnology and the Transformations of Science Policy
Potential Economic Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials in Agriculture and the Food Sector
 
Conclusions
Index

• Edited by Monique A. V. Axelos
• Edited by Marcel Van de Voorde
• Series edited by Marcel Van de Voorde