NC1031: Nanotechnology and Biosensors (NCDC201)
Statement of Issues and Justification
Nanoscale science, engineering and technology (nanotechnology) have great potential for application to the food and agricultural system. The novel physical, chemical, and biological properties of systems with structural features in the length scale for nanotechnology (1-100 nanometers) can allow the development of a new understanding of biological and physical phenomena in agricultural and food systems. In addition, nanotechnology allows scientists to measure, control, and manipulate matter at the nanoscale to change those properties and functions to the benefit of these systems.The National Planning Workshop on nanoscale science and engineering for agriculture and food systems was a major first step in identifying the potential usefulness of nanotechnology in the food and agricultural system. Microfluidics, BioMEMS, nucleic acid bioengineering, smart treatment delivery systems, nanobioprocessing, bioanalytical nanosensors, nanomaterials, and bioselective surfaces were identified as having significant potential for application in the food and agricultural systems. Subsequently, the USDA through the CSREES (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/) has identified the following programmatic areas for potential program emphasis: nanosensors; identity preservation and historical tracking of products; smart treatment of delivery systems; novel tools; nanomaterials; agro-environment; and education.
Nanotechnology will play a major role in agricultural and food biosecurity, food and nutritional quality and safety, plant and animal disease detection and treatment delivery systems, new tools for molecular and cellular biology, new and better materials of agricultural origins, energy production and efficiency, and protection of the environment. Agricultural and food producers should gain a more competitive position through the application of nanotechnology and in the long-term consumers will benefit from the advances in nanotechnology that allow a competitive, innovative domestic agricultural and food system and provide methods for increased safety and nutrition of food products. Nanotechnology will also play a major role in assisting developing countries through enhancements in agricultural productivity and food processing and storage. Despite the strong support for nanotechnology, however, several groups have expressed concern regarding the societal impacts of the application of nanotechnology to the food and agricultural system and have recommend that the potential economic, environmental, safety and health impacts of nanotechnology should also be investigated.
To achieve the knowledge needed for successful application of nanotechnology to food, agricultural and biological systems, multi- and cross-disciplinary approaches must be developed that include not only engineering, biological sciences and chemistry but the social sciences as well. The collaborative structure of NCDS 201 will enable the stations to share knowledge and educational and research facilities and thus achieve these collaborative approaches. NCDC-201 will play an important role in keeping US agricultural and food producers in the forefront on the application of nanotechnology in the world and assure that it is applied to the benefit of the total food and agricultural system as well as society.
A search of the CRIS (USDA) database identified over 66 current or recent projects that are related to nanotechnology and 70 projects that are related to biosensors. This project brings together 12 cooperating stations from across the US and most members of NCDC-201 serve as principal investigators on one of the CRIS projects identified. NCDC-201 does not duplicate any other Multistate Research project and is currently the only such project that integrates several disciplines in the area of nanotechnology.
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