In the current context of development of a modern unconventional agriculture, the use and application of Nanotechnology (NT) to generate nano inputs, offers the possibility of carrying out a sustainable agricultural activity with low environmental impact.

Agricultural production is one of the most receptive to the use of these new technologies, and the use and application of NT has generated great interest in the development of products for agricultural use, since it represents an excellent opportunity to reduce the use of synthetic agrochemicals , with the possibility of reducing environmental impact, for example.

FOOD EXPO 2020

At the international virtual meeting Expoalimentaria 2020, the issue of hydrogel NTs was addressed as a key element in food security for agriculture. The subject was presented by Dr. José Luis Soto Gonzales, researcher at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima and consultant for the National Council for Science and Technological Innovation of Peru (Concytec).

In a context in which the export of food from agriculture - especially from the fruit industry - is equivalent to exporting water, for which the FAO calls it "virtual water" due to the large volumes of water used in its production, they convert agricultural sector in cause and victim of water shortage.

In this situation of water scarcity, the first strategy is to reduce losses in the irrigation system, either by applying more efficient systems or by implementing a technical planning of scheduled irrigation, however, in any case, a water deficit is caused in the crops by which, in addition to considering the physiological response of each species, we must seek answers in new technologies as a solution to this key deficiency for agriculture.

HYDROGEL

This product, also known as a solid rain or water silo, consists of applying an absorbent material in powder form to the base or root of the crop, which once it absorbs water continues to cover the water demand of the plant and with this Helps reduce the volume of water used for irrigation.

The hydrogel is a material that has the ability to absorb and release water in large quantities without dissolving. It is a type of polymer with a colloidal consistency (gelatinous) and has the capacity to store double or triple the volume of water with respect to its weight, reducing the cost of irrigation and maintenance of crops. In addition, it is not a toxic material for the plant and allows the storage of nutrients that are leached with the application of irrigation.

NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURE

The NT explores inter and multidisciplinary research aimed at improving the productivity of agroecosystems applied to agriculture and aims to formulate products with nano-sized active ingredients, which makes them more efficient and easily available.

This technology has the potential to revolutionize systems, such as those for the efficient use of water or protection against insects and pests, generating new tools for molecular and cellular biology, or creating new materials for the protection of the environment, and various other areas. of application, such as:

• Nanosensors to monitor soil quality and plant vitality
• Increased productivity (nanoporous zeolites for the prolonged and efficient release of fertilizers)
• Capture, storage and conversion of energy (photovoltaic panels)
• Nanocapsules for punctual release of pesticides
• Nanosensors for the detection of pests and phytopathogens

With this technology, a wide range of opportunities opens up in various fields of agriculture with products containing nanoparticles (NPs), whether metallic, organic or derived from carbon, so the use and benefits of NT are enormous to manufacture nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanoherbicides and nanosensors, in the context of the new sustainable agriculture. These advances are already being integrated into biology, leading to the emergence of a new discipline, called nanobiotechnology.