Nanobiotechnology: a solution to food insecurity, safety and sustainability

Abstract

The problems of food insecurity, safety and sustainability occur mostly through the activities of pest and pathogens. The resistance of the causative agents on agricultural production coupled with potential health hazards posed on the environment by synthetic pesticides led to the search for an alternative to synthetic chemicals. Nanotechnology is currently the best candidate for ensuring food security, safety and water quality. National governments especially in developing countries are advised to mount regulating agencies that will be responsible for achieving food security and safety as already done in countries like USA, India and Indonesia among others. Considering the fact that we are now in a period when global population is steadily increasing and there is a very high demand for health food but high cost of production and need for sustainable agriculture has limited the profit margin made by farmers. The cause of naturally-occurring products with interesting antimicrobial eliciting properties and their derivatives has been getting more attention in recent years. Nanotechnology may have concrete solutions against many agriculture-related problems like insect pest management using traditional methods, adverse effects of chemical pesticides; development of improved crop varieties. As with any other technology, controversy surrounding nanotechnology is no exception in a heterogeneous society. Several concerns need to be addressed on different issues like food safety and beneficiaries of the technology.

Keywords: Food-insecurity, pathogen, pest, safety, chemicals, materials, benefits, nanoparticles, biotechnology