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13569: Nanotechnology: The Next Challenge for Organics

Paull, John and Lyons, Kristen (2008) Nanotechnology: The Next Challenge for Organics. Journal of Organic Systems 3(1):pp. 3-22.

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Summary

Nanotechnology is the fast growing science of the ultra small; it is creating engineered particles in the size range 1 to 100 nanometres. At this size, materials exhibit novel behaviours. Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding multibillion dollar industry, with research being heavily promoted by governments, and especially the US. Nanoscale materials are already incorporated into more than 580 consumer products, including food, packaging, cosmetics, clothing and paint. Nanotechnology has been cited as the foundation of a new “advanced agriculture”. This technology is advancing without nano-specific regulation and without labelling while, at the same time, public confidence in government regulatory agencies, and in the safety of the food supply, is declining. There is an opportunity, perhaps an imperative, for the organic community to take the initiative to develop standards to exclude engineered nanoparticles from organic products, just as GMOs have been excluded previously.

Document Language:English
Keywords:nanotechnology, nanoparticles, nanoscale materials, nano-pollution, organic agriculture, organic farming, organic food, regulation, labelling, IFOAM, risks, opportunity, standards.
Subject Areas: Environmental aspects
"Organics" in general
Values, standards and certification > Regulation
Values, standards and certification
Values, standards and certification > Quality and evaluation of inputs
Values, standards and certification > Consumer issues
Values, standards and certification > Technology assessment
Research affiliation: Australia > Australian National University
Australia > Griffith University
Total budget (Euro):0
Orgprints ID Number:13569
Contact:Paull, John
Deposited On:19 June 2008
EPrint Type:Journal paper
Published?:Published
Peer Review Status:Peer-reviewed and accepted
Additional Publishing Information:ISSN 1177-4528

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