Top tips is a weekly column where we highlight what’s trending in the tech world today and list out ways to explore these trends. This week, we’ll be serving up the benefits of nanotechnology in the food industry.
Amidst all the controversy surrounding the Bill Gates-produced protective fruit coatings, lab-grown meats, and pesticide-riddled produce, there is a silver lining in this dark culinary cloud of food science. Despite all the pushback against technological development in this sector, nanotechnology is the only technology vertical that is getting mostly five-star reviews from the critics, so let’s talk about it.
With nanotechnology, what matters is the matter. Matter that can be manipulated at atomic levels to create a difference in people’s lives is definitely a technology worth paying attention to. Nanotech plays a pivotal role in life-saving and world-changing industries such as medicine and environmental protection, and it’s only natural to apply the same technology to improve the way we eat.
So what benefits can manipulated atomic particles offer to the quality of food we eat? Surprisingly, the benefits are manifold. Right from food processing to improving the taste and quality of food, nanotech has a role to play in every aspect of food science.
1. Agriculture
Nanotech is now a farmer’s best friend. Farmers can now be more productive and grow stronger, more disease-resistant crops with better yields. Nano fertilizers can control the release of nutrients into the soil based on the crop’s needs, creating more suitable soil.
It can help with seed germination, infusing seeds with the essential nutrients required to speed up germination, and enhance plant growth. Magnetic nanoparticles and nanotubes are used to decontaminate water from toxic substances like pesticides and pathogens and make water suitable for irrigation.
2. Food packaging
Nanotech can be deployed to improve the quality of food packaging and improve the shelf life of most processed food products. When compared to standard polymer packaging, which isn’t very effective with improving shelf life nor is it good for the environment, nanocomposite films can help improve strength, biodegradability, and heat resistance of food packaging by absorbing oxygen, preventing food from spoiling as quickly.
3. Food quality and taste
Nanotechnology has the capacity to improve the quality, safety, and appeal of food products. Nanocapsules can be used to capture flavor and aroma by protecting the flavor compounds from quick degradation, allowing for a more consistent flavor release and taste experience.
Not only the taste, but the texture of food products, too, can be modified to look more appealing and give you a better tasting experience. Ingredients can be more uniformly distributed and dispersed through the product, providing an improved dining experience.
4. Personalized nutrition
Nanotech can help tailor food to suit individual dietary needs and tastes. Nanocapsules, which capture nutrients in nanometer-sized capsules, prevent nutrients from degrading, ensuring they are delivered to right parts of the digestive system.
Nanotechnology can be used to infuse nutrients with foods, where they are not only delivered more effectively but also interact with other bioactive compounds to provide additional health benefits.
Nanotech in moderation
Overall, nanotechnology has multiple benefits in the food industry, and its use cases are growing into success stories overnight. With the ability to improve food production, quality, and intake, it has the potential to entirely transform the way we eat, but at the same time, we must also take it with a pinch of salt.
Nanotechnology contains harmful particles that can have negative effects on our body and should be used in moderation. Food producers must proceed with caution and ensure that we are using this technology responsibly.
