Chapter 6 - Nanosensors and nanobiosensors: Agricultural and food technology aspects

Abstract

Nanotechnology applications in the food and agriculture sectors are growing. Both the agriculture and food sectors are obviously directly involved in everyday human life worldwide, and the economic growth of any country is closely dependent on these two crucial sectors. The practice of growing healthy food is closely related to good health, and nanosensors can play an important role in protecting foods from toxic materials and crops from diseases. Nanotechnology is already helping people to ensure safety in seed preservation, planting, applying fertilizers, growing crops, raising livestock, food processing, packaging, regulating production level, and, most importantly, ensuring the quality and safety. The booming research trends of nanotechnology in almost every sector of science are being adapted to meet the high demands for foods and agricultural products for a rapidly growing population. In the case of food inspection, nanosensors are used to justify both external and internal condition of food packaging. Electrochemical nanosensors having carbon nanotubes are being introduced to detect ions, toxic heavy metals, organic compound, pesticides, fertilizer overdose, etc. In this chapter, different aspects are discussed related to nanosensors and nanobiosensors under development that have high potential for usage in agriculture and food industries.