Nanotechnology Will Change the Food Industry

7 May 2007

Food consumption is expected to rise dramatically over the next 20 years. The key driver is the exploding population growth from 6 billion currently to a projection of 9 billion within that time frame, but other factors include climate change, water treatment issues and increased energy usage by industrial and developing nations.

The food shortage will continue in the future for a number of reasons. Since 60% of the water used internationally is to produce food, a contamination in the water will hamper food production. People desperately needing food will need it from elsewhere, but of course that involves tremendous costs. Nanotechnology may save the day. It would be possible to alter food at the molecular level to make it available to local populations and diminish the need to import it from elsewhere.

Companies understand the promise that Nanotechnology holds for correcting the world’s food deficit, and so are working feverishly on solutions that they can bring to market as soon as possible. Much of this work is still being done behind the scenes, as the public still misunderstands much of the science of Nanotechnology and would not be immediately receptive to it. At the present pace of research and development, however, it is believed that Nanoproduced food may make it to market by the year 2040. By this time, Nanotechnology will have impacted all phases of the food/water crisis in developing nations, including treatment, production issues and a variety of health related applications.

Related Posts: