report
2.2.4 Additional demand for research

Sensor systems for agricultural production based on nanotechnologies are still largely at the basic research level.  To progress towards application status will require demonstration of an ability to operate in the field, and scale-up to manufacturing levels.  It is most likely that such systems will be based on solid state materials, as these are most mature and have demonstrated application in other sectors.

Disease and pest control in crop plants using nano-emulsions has some maturity; however these technologies are largely proprietary, making it difficult for other companies to develop new delivery systems for other chemical entities.  Other systems, especially those using natural compounds are very much at the basic research level, and so will require significant effort to scale-up including extensive large scale field tests.

The situation in domesticated animals largely follows on from advances in human health care, with the caveat that cost per unit is one of the main challenges to uptake.

Similarly for water and nutrient control, there are systems that have been developed and commercialised (based on nano-clay particles, see below), however cost will be a major consideration.

Genetic engineering of plants and animals has the potential to improve productivity.  However, existing systems for genetic manipulation based on biotechnology are mature and have demonstrated success; so nanotechnology enabled systems will be viable alternatives only if they decrease time to development and cost

Agriculture has great potential to produce nanomaterials, both from waste products (such as straw) and by biogenesis (e.g. through micro-organisms).  The production of nanocomposites from biomaterials is at the applied research stage, however issues of manufacturing scale-up still need to be resolved.  The biogenesis of nanomaterials is at the basic research stage, and will require significant effort to scale-up to industrial process level