Scientists warn of nanoagriculture knowledge gap

Scientists have warned that there is a considerable knowledge gap on the effects of nanoparticles on food crops.

In an article published by the American Chemical Society 's (ACS) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso and a co- investigator for the NSF/EPA University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, warned that as a new era nanoagriculture is about to start, very little is known about it.

Nanoagriculture is the use of nanotechnology to boost the productivity of plants, primarily for food or fuel.

The scientists compiled and analysied over 100 previous studies into the effects of nanoparticles on edible plants and found that the uptake and build up of these particles varies but warned that it is still unclear if these accumulations could be toxic to humans.

"This literature review has confirmed that knowledge on plant toxicity of [nanomaterials] is at the foundation stage," the scientists state in the article, adding that the emerging field of nanoecotoxicology has begun to review the subject.