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DIVULGAÇÃO
An analysis of the system-wide costs and benefits of using engineered nanomaterials on crop-based agriculture. A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. has conducted an analysis of the system-wide costs and benefits of using engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on crop-based agriculture. In their paper published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the group describes their analysis and what they found. Credit: CC0 Public Domain
The researchers tested metal-oxide-based ENMs and carbon nanotubes that have been designed to improve fertilizer efficiency, and found their use was no better than crops with no ENMs added. They did, however, find that when ENMs were used as seed coatings or as a leaf spray, they provided additional protection from pests. They next attempted to test the impact of ENM use on the environment and found that there was a potential for such materials to make their way into the water system. They also found there was a potential for ingestion by humans eating the treated crops, with unknown consequences. But they also found that there appeared to be more of an impact on the environment during the manufacture of the ENMs than during their use. They conclude by suggesting that much more research is required on ENMs before they are used as commercial products. More information: Leanne M. Gilbertson et al. Guiding the design space for nanotechnology to advance sustainable crop production, Nature Nanotechnology (2020), DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-0706-5. By Bob Yirka, Phys.org. Posted: June 23, 2020.
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