Use of Agronanobiotechnology in the Agro-Food Industry to Preserve Environmental Health and Improve the Welfare of Farmers

Agronanobiotechnology is a term that refers to the intersection of agronomy, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. Agronanobiotechnology is a discipline in which tools from nanotechnology are developed and applied to the study of agronomic and biological phenomena. The objective of this chapter is to present cutting-edge knowledge regarding agronanobiotechnology, which is aimed at preserving environmental health and improving the welfare of farmers while also increasing crop yields and the production of innocuous feed. Producers of innovative products in agronanobiotechnology are experiencing difficulties in bringing these products to market, because of their high production costs, which regularly are required in high volumes in the agricultural sector, while unclear technical benefits, legislative uncertainties, and negative public opinion are hampering the development of agronanobiotechnology; notwithstanding these difficulties, the possibilities offered by agronanobiotechnology in several agricultural applications are moving forward. Meanwhile, progress in legislation, nanoremediation, environmental monitoring, international safety regulation, and drug delivery techniques could improve the agricultural and livestock sector indirectly. For research and development in agronanobiotechnology to move forward, long-term in situ field trials are required, while social welfare must also be guaranteed in order to shape sustainable development.