report
2.4.2 Nanotechnology impact

"Nanotechnology is an enabling technology that has the potential to revolutionize agriculture and food systems" (Rutzke, C.J. (ed): Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems. A Report Submitted to Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service. The United States Department of Agriculture, September 2003, http://www.nseafs.cornell.edu/web.roadmap.pdf)

According to the Helmuth Kaiser Consultancy (2004) nanofood market might grow to 20.4 billion US$ by 2010. The report published by the consulting firm Cientifica (2006) has valued food applications of nanotechnologies at around 410 million US$ in 2006 (food processing 100 million US$, food ingredients 100 million US$ and food packaging 210 million US$). According to the report, the current applications are mainly for food packaging (improved barrier properties, etc), with some applications for delivery systems for nutraceuticals. The report estimated that by 2012 the overall market value would reach 5.8 billion US$ thereof food processing 1,303 million US$, food ingredients 1,475 million US$, food safety 97 million US$ and food packaging 2,930 million US$. The differences between estimations of Helmuth Kaiser Consultancy and Cientifica indicate that there is a considerable uncertainty of the future nanofood market development.

More than 400 companies around the world today are active in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) and this number is expected to increase to more than 1000 within the next 10 years. In terms of numbers, the USA leads, followed by Japan, China, and the EU. Furthermore, many of the world's largest food companies are reported to have been actively exploring the potential of nanotechnology for use in food or food packaging. To give an example, following main food companies have their R&D projects concerning the application of nanotechnology:

• § Ajinomoto (http://www.ajinomoto.com),
• § Campbell Soup (http://www.campbellsoup.com),
• § ConAgra Food (http://www.conagrafoods.com),
• § General Mills (http://www.generalmills.com),
• § H.J. Heinz (http://www.heinz.com),
• § Nestlé (http://www.nestle.com),
• § Kraft Foods (http://www.kraft.com),
• § PepsiCola (http://www.pepsi.com),
• § Sara Lee (http://www.saralee.com),
• § Unilever (http://www.unilever.com),
• § Hershey (http://www.thehersheycompany.com),
• § etc.

Summing up, in addition to the biotechnologies and information and communication technologies, nanotechnologies are significantly influencing the agricultural sector and food industry. According to some expertises[1] nanotechnologies will be a driving force of changes in the Agrifood sector over the next two decades.    

A potential for applications of nanotechnologies appears in all aspects of Agrifood value chain including production, processing, storage, transportation, traceability, safety and security of food. However, the use of nanotechnology in food industry has not demonstrated its economic effectiveness and commercial potential yet. Most developed in this respect is currently the food packaging, which makes up the largest share of the current and short-term predicted market for nanotechnology applications.[2] In addition, nanoparticles of iron or zinc, and nanocapsules containing ingredients like co-enzyme Q10 or Omega 3 fatty acids can be mentioned as examples of nano-ingredients, which are already in the market. Some information concerning the market potential of nanotechnology gives us also availability of food additives, supplements and food-contact materials in some countries today.

Generally, four major areas in food production may benefit from nanotechnology:

• § development of new functional materials,
• § microscale and nanoscale processing,
• § product development, and
• § methods and instrumentation design for improved food safety and biosecurity.

Nanotechnology applications are expected to bring a range of benefits to the food sector, including:

• § new tastes, textures and sensations,
• § less use of fat,
• § enhanced absorption of nutrients,
• § improved packaging,
• § traceability and security of food products.

Some examples for applications nanotechnology in Agrifood sector are shown in the overview and figure below.

Table 1 - Examples of potential applications of nanotechnologies in Agrifood

Source: Berger, M.: The promises of food nanotechnology. Nanowerk, 2007. Available at (Sepember 2008): http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=1846.php.

Appendix A of the Report of Friends of the Earth (http://www.foe.org/pdf/nano_food.pdf) contains a list of claimed 104 commercially available foods, nutritional supplements, food contact materials like storage containers and chopping boards, and agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, plant growth treatments and chemical fertilisers that contain manufactured nanomaterials. The following overview provides only a few examples.

Table 2 - Examples of the current use of nanomaterials in agriculture, foods and food packaging

Source: Miller, Georgia - Rye Senjen: Out of the laboratory and on to our plates. Nanotechnology in Food and Agriculture. Friends of the Earth Australia Nanotechnology Project, March 2008. Available at (September 2008): http://www.foe.org/pdf/nano_food.pdf.

The rapid proliferation of nanotechnologies in a wide range of consumer products has also raised a number of safety, environmental, ethical, policy and regulatory issues.

The main concerns stem from the lack of knowledge with regard to the interactions of nano-sized materials at the molecular or physiological levels and their potential effects and impacts on consumer's health and the environment.

EFSA's Scientific Committee in its opinion on the potential risks arising from nanotechnologies on food and feed safety recommends that additional research and investigation is needed to address the many current uncertainties and data limitations. (EFSA, 2009)

[1] OECD, Allianz: Opportunities and risks of Nanotechnologies. Report in co-operation with the OECD International Futures Programme, 2005.

[2] GREINER, R. Current and projected applications of nanotechnology in the food sector. Nutrire: rev. Soc. Bras. Alim. Nutr.= J. Brazilian Soc. Food Nutr., São Paulo, SP, v. 34, n. 1, p. 243-260, abr. 2009.