Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize agriculture and food. According to Small Times magazine, nanotechnology promises food that can adjust its color, flavor, or nutrient content to accommodate each person’s taste or health needs. It offers packaging that can sense when food contents are spoiling and alert consumers. In agriculture, it portends various applications aimed at reducing pesticide and water use, improving plant and animal breeding, and creating nano-bioindustrial products.
A report last year by the Helmut Kaiser Consultancy estimated that the worldwide nanotech food market may total $20.4 billion by 2010.
Jennifer Kuzma and Peter VerHage, from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy (CSTPP), have analyzed publicly available data on current U.S. government-funded research projects in agrifood nanotechnology. They also have examined open information from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Their work has produced one of the first analyses of the current level and nature of the federal agrifood nanotechnology research portfolio, estimates on possible areas and timeframes for commercialization, and an early look at potential benefits and risks. It also has resulted in creation of a database with over one hundred and sixty research projects (publicly available and searchable with Microsoft Access).
Kuzma and VerHage will present their analysis and data at a program hosted by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies on Thursday, March 30th at 2:00 p.m. in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
What: Analysis of Early Stage Agrifood Nanotechnology Research & Development
Who:
- David Rejeski, Director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
- Jennifer Kuzma, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, and
- Associate Director, Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy (CSTPP)
- Peter VerHage, Research Assistant, CSTPP
When: Thursday, March 30, 2006, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Where: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 5th Floor Conference, Room. 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.
http://www.wilsoncenter.org and http://www.nanotechproject.org
Posted 28th March 2006
