MAPA DO CONHECIMENTO EM NANOTECNOLOGIA NO SETOR AGROALIMENTAR.

Nanotechnology is regarded by many authors as the base for the next industrial revolution. The prefix "nano" is equivalent to 10 m. Manipulation at the nanometric level can modify properties such as color, conductivity, reactivity, melting point, among others, creating new applications for materials. It is seen as a multidisciplinary science with applications in distinct sectors, such as physics, chemistry, biology, materials, and information, among others. In Brazil, the policies of support to nanotechnologies started in 2001, and since 2007, nanotechnologies were identified as a strategic area for the Brazilian government, due to their innovation potential, market growth, and the benefits related to their use. The food and agriculture sector, object of this study, is among the areas that can be benefited from using nanotechnologies. Considering the importance of the sector for the Brazilian economy, this paper aims to identify and to describe the research that involves nanotechnology in the food and agriculture sector. To do this, an application through the software VOSviewer has been made by means of studies published in the database Scopus. To identify how investigations have evolved over time, the search was divided into three different periods: 2001-2005, 2006-2009 and 2010-2013. The results pointed out four trends: 1. use of the biosensors, especially for contamination detection; 2. use of active packaging, biodegradable and containing indicators of deterioration and contamination; 3. encapsulation for delivery of nutrients; and 4. risks and benefits, regulatory frameworks. The results may provide means to develop policies that support and promote nanotechnology to the food and agriculture sector, as well as to suggest research objects for identifying the current phase of these technologies in Brazil. The prospection made also contributes to identify business opportunities for Brazilian businessmen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]