With the increasing demand for food and agriculture products globally, sustainable agriculture has become essential. Nanotechnology innovations and applications have emerged to transform conventional agriculture for sustainable farming and improving food security. This article summarizes the current updates on novel nanomaterials and sustainability tools like InVEST, REMIND, and WHAT-IF in food and agriculture industries. It emphasizes the importance of quantifying and predicting returns on natural capital investments. Over 143 agricultural producers were studied for a comprehensive assessment of Sverdlovsk region’s agriculture potential and food supply level. The article also explores sustainable agriculture in the context of new strategic challenges.
Nanotechnology innovations to enable sustainable agriculture with environmental and health impacts
The rapid increase in global demand for agriculture calls for sustainable farming to improve food security, safety and quality. Current nanotechnology developments have led to new solutions, bringing radical changes across farming, processing, packaging etc. Applications of agricultural nanotechnology offer complete farm-to-fork food solutions including functional foods, improving efficiency and nutrition. The agri sector has witnessed several nano-based products like nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides and nano growth promoters for sustainable agriculture. However, toxicity issues with nanomaterials need to be addressed by regulatory policies.
Tools like InVEST, REMIND and WHAT-IF for integrated valuation and investments in agriculture
InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) is a suite of models to map and value nature’s benefits vital for human wellbeing. It enables decision makers to quantify nature’s importance, evaluate tradeoffs and combine conservation with development. REMIND (REgional Model of INvestments and Development) optimizes economic and energy investments considering interregional trade. It allows analyzing climate mitigation policy choices and proposals. WHAT-IF is a decision support tool for water, hydropower and agricultural investments, representing processes like desalination, livestock farming, biofuel production etc. These tools integrate operations like dam releases, irrigation, energy production considering constraints to maximize welfare.
Assessments show agriculture potential and strategic role of Sverdlovsk region
A study of Sverdlovsk region’s agricultural sector surveyed 143 producers to ensure representativeness. It provides assessment of state and prospects of sustainable agriculture as the basis for development in new economic realities posed by the 2020 global pandemic. The results present a comprehensive evaluation of the region’s real potential and food supply level provided by agricultural producers. The strategic role of regional agriculture is positioned in the context of new challenges like climate change and socioeconomic drivers.
Sustainable agriculture is key for food security with increasing demand. Innovations in nanotechnology and integrated investment tools like InVEST, REMIND and WHAT-IF enable stakeholders to quantify nature’s importance and evaluate tradeoffs for informed decisions. Assessments of economic potential and strategic roles aid regions like Sverdlovsk plan sustainable development amid new realities.