Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture presents applications of nanobiotechnology for eco-friendly agriculture practices. Implementing sustainable agriculture techniques is a crucial component in meeting projected global food demands while minimising toxic waste in the environment. Nano-technological tools – including nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanotubes and nanomolecules – offer sustainable options to modernise agriculture systems. Written by nanotechnology experts, this book outlines how nano-formulations can improve yield without reliance on chemecial pesticides and reduce nutrient losses in fertilization. It reveals how nanotools are used for rapid disease diagnostics, in treating plant diseases and enhancing the capacity for plants to absorb nutrients. Features: Combines nanotechnology and agronomy presenting applications for improving plant performance and yields. Reveals nanotechnology-based products used for the soil and plant health management which mitigate climate change. Discusses roles of microbial endophytes, heavy metal nanoparticles and environment health, nano-nutrients, phytochemicals, green bioengineering and plant health. This book appeals to professionals working in the agriculture and food industry, as well as agricultural scientists and researchers in nanotechnology and agronomy.

The agricultural food system needs to provide access to enough healthy and affordable food for the growing population and mitigate its impact on the planet for future generations. Emerging technologies can help farmers increase yields.The book presents theoretical and applied aspects of nanotechnology, biotechnology, plant breeding and smart farming to increase plant productivity, crop yield, soil fertility and crop soil monitoring.

Nanotechnology has the potential to drastically transform the agri-food sector with its significant applications to improve agricultural productivity and the efficiency of agrochemicals. The food sector has benefitted from the inclusion of nanoparticles in food matrixes and the nanoencapsulation of nutraceuticals. Smart packaging materials designed with the help of nanotechnology have been used for increasing the shelf life of stored food products. Nanomaterials have been extensively used for the delivery of important agrochemicals to enhance their bioefficacy, prevent their degradation, and control their release. Various nanomaterials have been explored for remediation of arising environmental issues. Nanotechnology has also made a useful contribution to the utilization of huge agricultural and food wastes for production of valuable products. The existing and emerging applications of nanotechnology will contribute to environmental sustainability. Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Environment has been structured to provide a widespread coverage and up-to-date progress of nanotechnology and its applications in the agri-food sector and environmental remediation. Synthesis of value-added nanomaterials from agri-food wastes and their potential applications in environmental remediation have been explored. In addition, toxicity issues with nanomaterials have also been discussed. Features: Elaborated information on the use of nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture In-depth study about valorization of agri-food waste An overview of applications of nanotechnology in environmental remediation Toxicity analysis of nanotechnology-based products We aim to satisfy the need for a reference book for scientists, researchers, academicians and students in nanotechnology, agricultural, food, nutraceuticals, environmental and material sectors.

This new volume explores the important and cutting-edge roles that nanotechnology can play in facilitating sustainable agriculture. It provides recent updates on nanobiotechnology in soil science, plant breeding, food science, agricultural tool design and utilization, as well as the impacts of such approaches on properties of soils and plants. The book looks at the use of nanotechnology for crop production and protection, in the creation and application of pesticides, to enhance soil fertility and soil health, as a mitigating factor of plant abiotic stress, and more. The volume explores emerging nanotechnological tools and techniques for crop improvement that include space-inspired speed breeding for crop improvement, nanoparticles as sensing materials, plant nanobionics, nanopore DNA sequencing, and more.

This book presents recent developments involving the role of nanoparticles on plant physiology and growth. Nanotechnology applications include improvement of agricultural production using bio-conjugated NPs (encapsulation), transfer of DNA in plants for development of insect pest-resistant varieties, nanoformulations of agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers for crop improvement, and nanosensors/nanobiosensors in crop protection for identification of diseases and residues of agrochemicals. Recent findings on the increased use of nanotechnology in agriculture by densely populated countries such as China and India indicate that this technology may impart a substantial impact on reducing hunger, malnutrition, and child mortality.

Large-scale chemical fertilizer application causes irreparable damage to soil structure, mineral cycles, soil microbial flora, plants, and other food chains across ecosystems, culminating in heritable mutations in future generations of consumers. A better way forward is the use of nanofertilizers to focus on macro elements (N, P, K), as switching to nanofertilizers may result in large environmental benefits by replacing the majority of these nutrients. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of nanomaterials using bacteria, algae, yeast, fungus, actinomycetes, and plants has opened up a new avenue of research in the production of inorganic nanoparticles as ecologically friendly fertilizers. Nanofertilizers should also attain increased efficiency because of a several-fold increase in the surface-to-volume ratio of nano-forms of nutrients and their suitability for foliar application, where environmental losses are further reduced. Nanostructured fertilizers can also improve nutrient use efficiency through strategies such as targeted distribution and progressive or controlled-release as they can precisely release their active molecules in response to environmental cues and biological demands. Recent research shows nanofertilizers can increase agricultural productivity by speeding up seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic activity, nitrogen metabolism, and carbohydrate and protein synthesis. The potential agricultural benefits of nanofertilizers, their modes of action, and the fate of nanomaterials in soil are all discussed in this book. It also covers nanofertilizer formulation and delivery, applications, uptake, translocation, and their fate in plants, as well as their impact on plant physiology and metabolism. Nutrient nanoformulation is a valuable method that has the potential to alter the agricultural sector and provide solutions to current and future concerns for sustainable and climate-sensitive crops

Agricultural Development in Asia - Potential Use of Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology provides interesting research and information on the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture in Asia. Chapters discuss the potential use of nanomaterials, nanofertilizers, and nanopesticides for sustainable agricultural development; development of a new generation of nanopesticides for crop protection and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria; the role of allelopathy for sustainable crop production; and the use of plant materials in livestock farming.

Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Agroecosystems presents the latest research on the role of nanotechnology in agriculture and agroecosystems, offering innovations and many potential benefits in terms of plant growth, food production, crop protection and ecosystem management. Sections introduce new perspectives on the use of nanotechnology in agroecosystems and sustainable agriculture. Subsequent chapters focus on specific areas of innovation, covering a wide range of applications, including plant disease and protection, food processing and packaging, soil quality, precision farming, and groundwater treatment. This is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students across a range of disciplines, but it is also ideal for industrial scientists, engineers and R&D professionals with an interest in nanotechnology and sustainable technologies for agriculture and agro-industries. - Offers new perspectives on nanotechnology and nanoscale materials for sustainable agriculture and agroecosystems - Highlights state-of-the-art techniques, such as nanotechnology-mediated gene transfer in plants - Addresses challenges relating to plant disease, crop production, processing, soil and ecosystem management

The emergence of nanotechnology and the development of new nano-devices and nanomaterials open up opportunities for novel applications in agriculture and biotechnology. Nanotechnology has the potential to modernize the agricultural research and practice. Nanotechnology has gained momentum in agriculture sector during last decade, but still there are knowledge gap between scientific communities. This book comprise of holistic coverage about current developments in nanotechnology based sustainable agriculture. It contains sections focusing on each aspect of the implications of nanotechnology in different sectors of agriculture from crop production, soil fertility management, crop improvement etc. It also provides insight into the current trends and future prospects of nanotechnology along with the benefits and risks and their impact on agricultural ecosystems. This book emphasize on use of nanotechnology to reduce agrochemical usage via smart delivery system, increase nutrient use efficiency, improved water and nutrient management, nano-biosensors for management of plant diseases etc. The book provides thorough knowledge for dealing with current challenges of agricultural sector using nanotechnology based agricultural interventions. It will serve as reference literature for scientists, policymakers, students and researchers who are engaged in development of strategies to cope up with challenges of current agricultural systems and society.

Nanotechnology is a fast-evolving discipline that already produces outstanding basic knowledge and industrial applications for the benefit of society. Whereas the first applications of nanotechnology have been developed mainly in material sciences, applications in the agriculture and food sectors are still emerging. Due to a rapid population growth there is a need to produce food and beverages in a more efficient, safe and sustainable way. Here, nanotechnology is a promising way to improve crop production, water quality, nutrition, packaging, and food security. There are actually few comprehensive reviews and clear textbooks on nanotechnology in agriculture, water, and food. In this book there are 10 chapters describing the synthesis and application of nanomaterials for health, food, and agriculture are presented. Nanomaterials with unique properties will dramatically improve agriculture and food production. Applications will include nanofertilisers to enhance plant growth and nanosensors to detect food contamination. An overall view of nanotechnology applications in agriculture, food, water, and environment are described in the first two chapters by Dasgupta et al. and Singh. Health and environmental applications of nanotechnology are presented in chapters 3-5. Shukla and Iravani review green methods to synthesize metal nanoparticles, and give applications to water purification, in chapter 3. The removal of up to 95% of contaminants by nanoparticles, nanotubes and nanostructured membranes is described by Naghdi et al. in chapter 4. Yoti et al. then review nanosensors for the detection of pathogenic bacteria in chapter 5. Those nanosensors can be used as biodiagnostics to control food and water quality. Food applications of nanoscience are presented in chapters 6 and 7 by Kuswandi and Sarkhar et al. Kuswandi explain in chapter 6 that nanomaterials can improve packaging quality and that nanosensors can detect freshness and contanimants. The use of nanoparticles to protect ingredients such as vitamins, flavours, and antimicrobials is reviewed by Sarkhar et al. in chapter 7.