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A single gram of catalyst material that is made of 10-nanometre particles is about 100 times more reactive than the same amount of the same material made of one-micrometre sized particles (a micron is 1,000 times bigger than a nanometre). Aside from the serious toxicity implications of quantum property changes, it is not always necessary or useful to draw a distinct line between nano-scale and microscale applications: "nano-scale" is not nec- essarily the goal in every case; "micro-scale" may be adequate for some purposes—and for others both nano-scale and micro-scale devices, materials or particles may serve equally well. Both may prove disruptive. A single gram of catalyst material that is made of 10-nanometre in which the properties of industrial nanoparticles can be adjusted particles is about 100 times more reactive than the same amount to create cheaper, "smarter" replacements. of the same material made of one-micrometre sized particles (a Just as GM agriculture led to new levels of corporate concentra- micron is 1,000 times bigger than a nanometre). Aside from the tion all along the food chain, so proprietary nanotechnology, serious toxicity implications of quantum property changes, it is deployed from seed to stomach, genome to gullet, will strengthen not always necessary or useful to draw a distinct line between the grasp of agribusiness over global food and farming at every nano-scale and microscale applicatio! "nano-scale" is not nec- stage—all, ostensibly, to feed the hungry, safeguard the environ- essarily the goal in every case; "micro-scale" may be adequate for ment and provide consumers with more choice. some purposes—and for others both nano-scale and micro-scale For two generations, scientists have manipulated food and agri- devices, materials or particles may serve equally well. Both may culture at the molecular level. Agro-Nano connects the dots in the prove disruptive. industrial food chain and goes one step further down. With new nano-scale techniques of mixing and harnessing genes, genetically Keeping Nanoparticles Out of the Environment modified plants become atomically modified plants. Pesticides Applying nanoparticles in agriculture raises environmental and can be more precisely packaged to knock-out unwanted pests and health concerns since nanoparticles appear to demonstrate a dif- artificial flavourings and natural nutrients engineered to please the ferent toxicity than larger versions of the palate. Visions of an automated, centrally- same compound. In 2003, Dr Vyvyan controlled industrial agriculture can now be Howard, founding editor of the Journal of implemented using molecular sensors, mole- Nanotoxicology, undertook a review of sci- cular delivery systems and low-cost labour. entific literature on nanoparticle toxicity for ETC Group. Dr Howard concluded that Downsized Seeds nanoparticles as a class appear to be more Re-organising natural processes is hardly a toxic as a result of their smaller size, also Applying nanoparticles in new idea. To increase yields during the rt at raopaies could move more | agriculture raises | vst evolution, Noten cient bd branes such as skin, the blood-brain barrier environmental and absorb synthetic fertilisers and by doing so, or perhaps the placenta. i increased the plants’ need for pesticides. To A study published by Dr Eva Oberd6rster health concerns since further the dependency, the agricultural in July 2004 found that large mouth bass nanoparticles appear to biotechnology industry designed plants that (fish) exposed to small amounts of A could tolerate toxic chemicals. buckyballs (manufactured nanoparti- demonstrate a different Agbiotech companies had a choice: cles of 60 carbon atoms) resulted in toxicity than larger they could have structured new chemi- rapid onset of damage in the brain, the versions of the same cals to meet the needs of the plants or compound. death of half the water fleas living in they could have manipulated plants to the water in which the fish lived. '* meet the needs of company herbicides. Other studies show that nanoparticles They opted to preserve their herbi- can move in unexpected ways through cides. Now nanotech companies are soil potentially carry other substances going down the same path—looking for with them. Given the knowledge gaps, new ways that life and matter can serve many expert commentators are recom- the needs of industry. mending that release of engineered nanoparticles be minimised or prohib- ited in the environment. Gene therapy for plants Researchers are developing new tech- niques that use nanoparticles for smug- NANO-AGRICULTURE: DOWN ON THE FARM gling foreign DNA into cells. For example, at Oak Ridge In December 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture National Laboratory—the US Department of Energy lab that (USDA) drafted the world's first "roadmap" for applying played a major role in the production of enriched uranium for the nanotechnology to agriculture and food.'® A wide collection of | Manhattan Project—researchers have hit upon a nano-technique policy makers, land-grant university representatives and corporate for injecting DNA into millions of cells at once. Millions of car- scientists met at Cornell University (New York, USA) to share bon nanofibres are grown sticking out of a silicon chip with their vision of how to remake agriculture using nano-scale strands of synthetic DNA attached to the nanofibres.'’ Living technologies. cells are then thrown against and pierced by the fibres, injecting Agriculture, according to the new nano-vision, needs to be the DNA into the cells in the process: more uniform, further automated, industrialised and reduced to "It's like throwing a bunch of baseballs against a bed of nails... simple functions. In our molecular future, the farm will be a We literally throw the cells onto the fibers, and then smush the wide-area biofactory that can be monitored and managed from a cells into the chip to further poke the fibers into the cell." — laptop and food will be crafted from designer substances deliver- Timothy McKnight, Engineer, Oak Ridge Laboratory.'* ing nutrients efficiently to the body. Once injected, the synthetic DNA expresses new proteins and Nanobiotechnology will increase agriculture's potential to har- new traits. vest feedstocks for industrial processes. Meanwhile tropical agri- Oak Ridge has entered into collaboration with the Institute of cultural commodities such as rubber, cocoa, coffee and cotton— Paper Science and Technology in a project aimed to use this tech- and the small-scale farmers who grow them—will find themselves nique for genetic manipulation of loblolly pine, the primary quaint and irrelevant in a new nanoeconomy of "flexible matter" source of pulpwood for the paper industry in the USA. nanoparticles appear to demonstrate a different compound. 12 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2005 health concerns since toxicity than larger versions of the same www.nexusmagazine.com