Nanotechnology Essay

1774 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of the food industry

Introduction
Rapid advancements in nanosciences and nanotechnologies in recent years have opened up new prospects for so many industrial and consumer sectors that they have been regarded as the hotbed of a new industrial revolution.
The food sector, which is worth over 4 trillion US$ per annum globally, is an obvious target of these new developments. Food related applications of nanotechnologies offer a wide range of benefits to the consumer. These include a possible reduction in the use of preservatives, salt, fat and surfactants in food products; development of new or improved tastes, textures and mouth sensations through nano-scale processing of foodstuffs. Nano-formulations can also improve the uptake, absorption, and bioavailability of nutrients and supplements in the body compared to bulk equivalents. Nanotechnology derived polymer composites offer new lightweight but stronger food packaging materials that can keep food products secure during transportation, fresh for longer during storage, and safe from microbial pathogens. Antibacterial nano-coatings on food preparation surfaces can help maintain hygiene during food processing, whereas the use of ‘Smart’ labels can help protect safety and authenticity of food products in the supply chain. However, despite the projected benefits, the current level of nanotechnology applications in food and related sectors is still new emergent in most countries and, despite a steady increase in the number of available products, the vast majority of new developments is still at R&D or near-market stages. Because of the scarcity of information on commercial activity in this area, estimates of the current and future market share of nanotechnology- enabled food products vary widely.

Current st...

... middle of paper ...

... of nanotechnology in the food industry are:
(1) bacteria identification and food-quality monitoring using biosensors
(2) intelligent, active, and smart foodpackaging systems
(3) nanoencapsulation of bioactive food compounds (e.g., micelles, liposomes, nanoemulsion, biopolymeric nanoparticles, and cubosomes).

Table below shows some examples of NMs applied to food, divided into several categories including food, food additives and food packaging, using many different types of materials.

World Health Organization has published the report of a Joint Expert Meeting held in June 2009 on the topic of Application of Nanotechnologies in the Food and Agriculture Sectors: Potential Food Safety Implications. This report presents an overview of the wide range of current and projected nanotechnology applications in food and agriculture.This is shown in the figure below:-

Show More
Related

  • Flinders Nanotechnology Essay

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    Amandi Hiyare: Before forming my research question, I had a discussion with my research project coordinator “Lisa Pope” who told me that the Flinders nanotechnology research team has been developing microbial catheters. Then on Monday I had an interview with Professor Joe Shapter who told me that your team was leading this project. So I was wondering whether you would be able to provide me with some detailed information about this innovation?

    Read More

  • Questions and Answer: What Makes Us Different From Chimps and Other Species?

    1091 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lovgren, Stefan. Can Art Make Nanotechnology Easier t Understand? 23 December 2003. Web. 3 May 2014. .

    Read More

  • Nanotechnology In Michael Crichton's Prey

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel, Prey, written by Michael Crichton it pertains to the subject of nanotechnology throughout the whole entire book. The main characters of this novel are the

    Read More

  • Relativity of Labeling Genetically Engenineered Products

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kramkowska, Marta, Teresa Grzelak, and Krystyna Czyżewska. “Benefits and risks associated with genetically modified food products.” Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine. 2013. Web. 6 May. 2014.

    Read More

  • GMOs - Progressive or Perilous?

    2386 Words  | 5 Pages

    GMOs have attracted a lot of attention recently due to increasing concerns over the safety and efficacy of genetic engineering in foods. Biotech foods have the potential to resolve malnutrition and world hunger, along with protecting the environment and increasing crop yields. However, many people are concerned over the long-term environmental and health effects of GMOs. Ultimately, the potential benefits of GMOs greatly outweigh the costs. Proceeding with caution to avoid unintended harm to the environment and to human health will enable genetically modified foods to truly become the “food of the future.”

    Read More

  • Genetically Modified Food (GMOs): Annotated Bibliography

    2902 Words  | 6 Pages

    Okigbo, R., Iwube, J., & Putheti, R. (2011). An extensive review on genetically modified (GM) foods

    Read More

  • The Genetically Modified Foods Controversy

    1350 Words  | 3 Pages

    The past twenty years have seen rise to a new burgeoning scientific field: genetically modified foods. During the plant breeding process, geneticists interfere with the reproduction and modify the genes of the new seedling by introducing a fragment of DNA from another organism that possesses the desired trait. With genetic modification, scientists can increase the pest, herbicide, cold, and drought tolerance so that the crop can survive in harsher climates. In some cases, the nutritional value can even be increased (Ulrich 9). Despite the obvious benefits of more nutritious foods and crops that are hardier and more resistant to harsher climates, there are some concerns surrounding GM foods. Each new alteration can cause an unforeseen allergic reaction, negate the effects of antibiotics, or potentially cause some adverse effects to the environment (Falkner 101). Every newly developed GM food must be tested on a case by case basis as there is no universal method that determines the safety of all modified components. As a result, long term effects of ingesting food with altered material are unknown.

    Read More

  • The Obesity Epidemic Sweeping the Nation

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chemical advancement in modern science is a contributing factor to “better”, faster, and cheaper food production. Although the ideas of GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) that scientists thrive for are theoretically beneficial, they are corrupting the natural methods for farming and food that consumers will purchase. Nowadays, around 70% of food has a genetically modified ingredient. What is being consumed in mass quantities across the country barely constitutes as food in some instances. A prime example lies in the tomato. Tomatoes are sold year round in grocery markets nationwide....

    Read More

  • In Vitro Meat

    872 Words  | 2 Pages

    American Journal of Food Technology 6.6 (2011): 441-59. Print. The. Gonzalez, Julina. A. Roel. " "The Philosophy of Food," Edited by David M. Kaplan.

    Read More

  • Argument for the Continuation of the U. S Space Program

    1775 Words  | 4 Pages

    Roberts, A. (2011, March). Nanotechnology: The incredible invisible world, Technology & Engineering Teacher, 70 (6) p10-17

    Read More

  • Foodborne Illness

    2492 Words  | 5 Pages

    Food safety is an increasingly important public health issue. Governments all over the world are intensifying their efforts to improve food safety. Food borne illnesses are diseases, usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through the ingestion of food. “In industrialized countries, the percentage of people suffering from food borne diseases each year has been reported to be up to 30%. In the United States of America, for example, around 76 million cases of food borne diseases, resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, are estimated to occur each year.” (Geneva 2)

    Read More

  • Nanotechnology Essay

    1814 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...esity is becoming an epidemic, nanotechnology could be used to create foods which are low in fat, salt and sugar but are still nutritionally dense and taste great. Food is naturally nanostructured material – simply boiling an egg causes many changes; the proteins in the egg white change shape and tangle together to form a solid. We now have the opportunity to study what exactly happens in these nanoscale changes. Nanotechnology gives us many ways to ensure our food is safe and waste is cut down. However, there are many concerns that this form of processing is another way to put more power into the hands of large food companies- yet food has never been safer than it is today largely due to the strict hygiene and sanitation practices these companies follow. As the population continues to grow – so too will the importance of new food technologies like nanotechnology.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Medical Biotechnology

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    Keener, K., Hoban, T. and Balasubramanian, R. 2014. Biotechnology and its applications. [online] Available at: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/foodsci/ext/pubs/bioapp.html [Accessed: 11 Apr 2014].

    Read More

  • Food Biotechnology Essay

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    New opportunities and challenges of human health are presented by the application of biotechnology to food. Biotechnology helps improve the quality and nutrition of foods consumed by people,this helps their health. Foods produced through biotechnology has been around for more than 15 years but people are still debating about how safe the food is. Biotechnology still have to plays its role by increasing agricultural productivity,especially in light of climate change. I believe that biotechnology is still going to help better th nutritional value of food. It can also assist farmers to increase their productivity so that they can feed their families and many people across the globe. The whole world should be using the food biotechnology because it has the ability to change the world,it can be to end world hunger .

    Read More

  • Food Science Essay

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    The basis of the discipline focused on understanding of the chemistry of food components such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats and water and reaction during processing than storage. Good understanding about processing and preservation method are needed which includes drying, pasteurization, canning and irradiation (Susan, 2012).

    Read More

More about Nanotechnology Essay

Open Document